February 11-26, 2005
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February 11-26, 2005 |
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Elvira/Charlie Douglas & Captain Mc Blair |
Michelle Perez |
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James Jesse Strang |
Phil Murphy |
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Mary Pierce & Thomas Bedford |
Kelly Curtis |
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Betsy McNutt & Lorenzo Dow Hickey |
Karen Haspas |
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Sarah Wright & George Adams |
Bonni Deigh |
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Phoebe Wright & Alec Wentworth |
Nicole Case |
Production Crew
| Director - Jeanette Mason | Co-Asst. Directors - Rosanne Fifarek, Mary Gillett |
Tech. Director - Steve Morse | Producer - Diane Hubert |
| Music - Tom Stokes Co- Stage Managers -Vickie Mathis, Dick Cieslik |
Singers - Nancy Brick, Nancy Still Landfair Carly McCall, Carol Purcell, Candice Wallace | Set Construction - Jeff Kroger, Steve Morse,
David Early, Joe Rice, Mike Carney |
Set Dressing - Kasey Kilpatrick, Joe Kilpatrick, Kate Kilpatrick |
| Co-Props - Barbara and Dan Goodearl | Costumes - Kathy Verstraete, Alecia Cramer, Sue Warner | Sound & Recording - Gary Bolton | Light/Sound Boards - Michael Nunn, Sherri Burford |
SPECIAL THANKS
Chris Bazzett and Margaret Schaal
Maritime Heritage Alliance
William Cashman
The Beaver Island Historical Society
Beaver Island Beacon
Original play performed at Old Town Playhouse
Tom Carr,
Record-Eagle staff writer
TRAVERSE CITY -- Many have heard of the polygamist and self-proclaimed King of Beaver Island, though his wives are often reduced to props in the tale. Playwright Anne Marie Oomen's new historical fiction, "Wives of an American King," turns that around. Of course the story of Mormon sect-leader James Jesse Strang drives the play, because he's the one on whom there's an ample amount written. But that opened an opportunity for Oomen to fill in the blanks on the women so intimately involved in the story.
"I love building plays on history," she said, explaining that the lack of information on the wives allowed her to give them voices, flesh and bones.
One device Oomen used to emphasize the women is to have the actresses play dual roles. The women portraying the five wives will also each play a male character who parallels or contrasts the female character. The wives are played by Kelly Curtis, Karen Haspas, Michelle Perez, Nicole Case and Bonnie Deigh.
"I decided it would be really great fun to have the women play the men," she said. "The men can express the doubts and challenges and criticism the women never could."
The only role played by a man is that of Strang, portrayed by Phil Murphy.
This is at least the third historial fiction Oomen has written. She is also chairwomen of creative writing at Interlochen Arts Academy, author of two chapbooks of poetry and the memoir, "Pulling Down the Barn."
She edited "Looking Over My Shoulder: Reflections on the Twentieth Century," a collection of writing by seniors.
Oomen became interested in Strang while studying Michigan history. In researching the play, she read three biographies of Strang and visited Beaver Island to research archives there.
After Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was assassinated in Illinois, Strang competed with Brigham Young for leadership of the Mormon world.
After the two rivals' groups broke apart, Strang led his followers to Wisconsin and then Beaver Island.
In July 1850, based on a vision, he declared himself "King of the Kingdom of God on Earth," and later tried to collect tithes even from non-followers. He showed people a letter that was supposedly from Smith saying that Strang was chosen to succeed him as leader of the Mormon religion.
"It was probably forged," Oomen said.
"The play is all about what happens when a true believer suspends his morality to achieve his goals," she said, adding that she believes he was sincere in seeing and believing the vision.
Strang also changed his stance against polygamy after he met Elvira Eliza Field while he was already married. Field was to become his second wife. At times, she traveled with him disguised as a man to keep their marriage a secret. In all, he had five wives.
Oomen gives the wives distinct personality traits, including intelligence and cynicism, as well as loyalty and naivete', director Jeanette Mason said. The script moves like a movie, Mason added.
"Things fade in and out," she said, adding that the juxtaposition of the male-female counterpart roles emphasize "ironies of gender."
"Directing-wise, the challenges come in the transition, and using a local historical piece," Mason said. "Like in Shakespeare, you can either portray Macbeth as evil or as confused and manipulated."
As for the wives "you feel a lot of compassion for these women," Mason said.
Local musician Tom Stokes has adapted hymns of the period and recorded them with a choir to help create the mood.
Performances will be Feb. 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26. All shows are at 8 p.m. in the Studio Theater of the playhouse at Eight and Cass streets. On Thursday, Feb. 17, there will be a question and answer session with Oomen after the play for interested writers and historians. Tickets are $8 and are available by calling 947-2210.