Northern Pride on Two for the Pot

http://northernprideml.com/2012/01/31/all-the-worlds-a-stage/

Meadow Lake Progress article on Two for the Pot

Community theatre returns to Meadow Lake

By Jennifer Carbert

Posted 3 months ago

After a 10-year hiatus, the Meadow Lake community theatre group is ready to rebuild with the play ‘Two for the Pot” next weekend.

The play, written by Ed Schroeter, is a one-act play set in small town southern Saskatchewan in the 1980s. The plot of the play focuses on a couple of horticultural aficionados who have discovered that there is something horribly wrong with their plants.

Director Tara Million said she thought the play would be something that people in Meadow Lake could relate to.

“We thought it was something that was relatable,” she said. “A lot of the references don’t make sense if you’re not from a small town.”

Million said she would rate the play as PG because of some sexual innuendos and drug references.

“There is comedy which is probably not appropriate for younger children,” she said. “It’s nothing explicit or offensive but parents with small children under 12 probably don’t want their children to see that.”

The last time the community theatre group produced a play was in 2002 when Meadow Lake hosted the Community Theatre Fall Festival, said former president David Martodam.

“We’ve been threatening to get it active again and it all fell together this year,” Martodam said.

There had been whispers of getting the group back together in recent years but finding someone with the time to organize everyone was a challenge, he added.

While the original theatre group focused on musicals, Martodam said this play is not a musical. Moving forward, the new group is not sure if they are going to focus on dinner theatres, kids productions, or festival pieces, Martodam added.

In the spring, Joy Stang, David Martodam, Tara Million and Kristin Stringer sat down and decided to give it a try.

Million said she spent weeks reading plays and making a short list that the group could possibly do with their current budget and resources.

“It’s a comedy and it’s fun and it’s not too long,” Million said. “The scenery isn’t too complicated. It seemed like a good start.”

In September they put out a call for actors and started practising and building sets.

Kristin Stringer, Dana Francis, Aimee Alger, Buddy Gran and Jesse Ramshaw along with a number of technical producers have been working on the play since October, Million said.

In January the group has been practising three or four times a week, Million said.

“It’s a pretty significant time commitment,” she said.

The community theatre group thought about hosting the play in the Carpenter High School theatre but since they wanted to serve alcohol that wasn’t an option. The Civic Centre was too expensive so they settled on the Catholic Church Hall, Martodam said.

The smaller setting allowed the group to produce the play as a threatre in the round where some of the action will be happening in the audience.

“Doing it in the round has had some major impacts on how the actors move around the stage,” Million said. “When they’re in the round the actors always have to move.”

Theatre in the round also brings the audience in on the action.

“The action will be right in between you almost,” Martodam said.

The play is scheduled to run in the Catholic Church hall on Thursday, Jan. 26, Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28.

Million said people should purchase tickets early because they are not going over the 100-person seating limit in the hall.

Northern Comfort will be playing 80s music to start the evening. There will also be a dessert theatre and a bar.

Martodam said the price tag to produce this play was about $1,500 with royalty costs, venue, food, sets, and advertising.

Million said now that the group is active again she has heard a couple of people say they would be interested in helping with the next production.

“I think people are getting excited that it’s up and running again,” she said.

Gearing up for a new production!

Meadow Lake theatre group is starting to prepare for a new production, and we need YOU to join us!

We'll be starting auditions and rehearsals in May, looking at performance dates late October/beginning of November 2012.  Yes, we really do need that much time to put together a full performance.  For a show to look seamless and polished, we need hours upon hours of rehearsals, not to mention backstage help and preparation.  Not only do we need actors, but producers, stage crew, help with props, costumes and staging...and people to help during the performances too.

There are roles for everyone and anyone who wants to come and help out.

Our first reading of our newest play will be:
 Sunday, May 6, at 7pm
Meadow Lake Library

Call Kristin @ 236-6234 for more info