BEMIDJI — “Community theater is special because it is done by community members for community members,” said Vicki Stenerson, director of the upcoming Bemidji Community Theater production.
In a recent conversation on the KAXE Morning Show, Stenerson says she believes community theater is alive and well in Bemidji. Her next production is Noel Coward’s Present Laughter.
“I love theater. I love all parts of theater.”Vicki Stenerson
The play follows Gary Essendine. He’s a successful but self-obsessed comedy actor, who deals with women who want to seduce him, a long-suffering secretary and wife, a young playwright, and a mid-life crisis.
Stenerson has been trying to put on Present Laughter for three years.
“My favorite part of theater are plays that have witty intelligent dialogue,” she said, a staple of a Noel Coward play.
When asked about the challenges of putting on a British play for an American audience, especially when set in a different era, Stenerson said, “You kind of have to adjust — not the dialogue necessarily, but the inflections and gestures to give the American audience an idea of what you’re talking about.”
Stenerson has been a part of community theater for almost 30 years.
“I love theater. I love all parts of theater,” she said. She has done every part in a production; acting, directing, light design, stage manager and costume repairs, and it has influenced her directing style.
“Once you have done the other technical aspects of the show you have a better idea of how long it’s going to take and what the limitations are in the space you have and the equipment you have,” Stenerson said.
Present Laughter is a play about working in theater. Many forms of arts end up being about art, like a play within a play. Stenerson believes it’s a case of writing what you know.
"We know it so we can present it with the knowledge behind it to make it real. I think that’s what attracts us,” she said.
What Stenerson hopes people take away from the production of Present Laughter is an understanding of a different world outside of Bemidji, and of course, that people have fun.
Present Laughter is at the Bemidji Community Theater Performing Arts Center 7 p.m. Sept. 8-9 and 14-16, and 2 p.m. Sept. 10 and 17.
To tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota, email psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of MN.