BEMIDJI — The Paul Bunyan Playhouse loves to end their season with a big production and this year it is the musical The Pirates of Penzance.
The comic opera is about a young lad who falls in love with Major-General Stanley’s daughter Mabel. He is supposed to be released from his apprenticeship on his 21st birthday. Unfortunately, he was born on Leap Day so he must serve his apprenticeship for nearly the rest of his life.
The board for the Paul Bunyan Playhouse selected the show, but director Philip Hoks didn’t disagree; he’s a fan. Hoks said, “It's one that shows empathy and love and compassion in a comical way.”
It’s the third show of the year for the Paul Bunyan Playhouse. The play The Foreigner just ended last week, which Hoks also directed along with The Importance of Being Earnest earlier this year. That gives a limited time for the cast to practice on the stage before performing in front of live audiences. They’ve been practicing at Pine Hall at Bemidji State University.
Actors like Jill Thompson-Bakken from Bagley is playing Ruth in the show, and she thinks it’s been an exciting process. She was involved with the Paul Bunyan Playhouse as part of the Elf the Musical cast last year.
To cast this season’s shows, live auditions were in Bemidji, as well as submissions from around the country. There are actors from Bemidji, Florida, and New York this year.
Since the show is a period piece, the dialogue is a little different than today’s vernacular. Thompson-Bakken was a little scared at first. “The dialogue I think, really intimidated me right away because you need to speak with somewhat of an English accent, maybe a little cockney... but when you get there and everybody else is doing the same thing, then you kind of catch on and it comes naturally after that.”
She also appreciates having Hoks as the director to help with research. Thompson-Bakken said, “I remember asking questions early, ‘Philip, what am I going to do with this?’ And so, he's been really great to be patient and answer my questions when I've had them.”
With Hoks directing all three shows this season it’s been a whirlwind of activity and a busy schedule. “I get a few breaks throughout the day, but most of my day is either I'm in rehearsal or I'm answering questions, or I'm going out to other meetings.”
Thompson-Bakken and Hoks have been having a wonderful time in Bemidji while they prepare for the show. Thompson-Bakken said, “I am very inspired by the energy and the chasm of all of these people from all over the country coming to be here and present a professional show in our area. It is inspiring and it's really an honor to be a part of.”
Hoks added, “I think it's absolutely beautiful and stunning to be in the nature areas when we have a little bit of downtime... It's a fun little town that's full of art and full of just creativity, and that's what I really love about coming back.
Hoks believes this show is an excellent introduction to both musical theater and opera. “It's fun, it's lively. It's a comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles. It's not something that's going to be stuffy. It's going to just make you laugh.”
Thompson-Bakken added, “I hope that people come and have a great time. I would love to be a member of the audience and see the show because the people who are in it are fun and fascinating and so very talented, so I hope that Bemidji is ready for what they're going to get.”
Tickets for The Pirates of Penzance are available on the Paul Bunyan Playhouse website and at the box office. The shows will be at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 8-10 and 15-17, and 2:00 p.m. on Aug. 11 and 14.
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
