The second main stage show at the Souris Valley Theatre this summer will bring some local flavour to the tourist attraction.
Pirate Heart is an original musical comedy written by Lampman鈥檚 Maureen Ulrich, a well-known local playwright and author. The show will be performed from Aug. 8-11, and 14-18, at the theatre鈥檚 Frehlick Hall.
Cast members are Miranda Hughes (who plays Rachel McQueen), Robbie Towns (Jack Pettigrew), David Playfair (Captain Morgan), Christina Persson (Annie) and Mikael Steponchev (Seamus). Caitlin Vancoughnett is the director, Tori Yuzik and Catherine Bridge are responsible for the sets and Ben Redant is the composer and musical director.
Ulrich has had several short-term productions performed at the theatre in the past, and has written the productions for the theatre鈥檚 summer camp each year. But this is her first main-stage production at the theatre.
As such, this is the first time her work has been produced professionally without her footing the bill. The theatre is taking the risk, which she views as a 鈥済reat honour.鈥�
She described Pirate Heart as a typical plot for a pirate production, with Hughes鈥� character trying to win back her crew.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have a lot of twists and turns, this plot, but it鈥檚 just fun,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淲e have five performers who play some other characters as well, and also there鈥檚 some audience participation, and some inanimate characters, so what we鈥檙e hoping is when the audience leaves, they鈥檒l feel like they saw a much bigger show than just the five characters.鈥�
It鈥檚 also her first foray into a musical. She worked with musical director Ben Redant, who serves as the composer for the production.
Twelve original songs are part of the show.
鈥淚t was really great working with him,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淗e has reworked some of the lyrics as he comes up with a score for a particular song, and he needs to change some lines so that it fits with the metre and the rhythm of the score he composed.鈥�
The songs have to be able to move the plot forward, she said, and they can鈥檛 repeat what was said during the dialogue.
Ulrich started writing Pirate Heart about five years ago, and finished it while completing her tenure as a writer-in-residence at the Estevan Public Library last year.
鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 love pirates? Who doesn鈥檛 love to dress up as a pirate, or hang out with pirates for a couple of hours?鈥� she asked.
She conducted research into which famous pirate she would include, and opted for the pirate from Captain Morgan鈥檚 spiced rum, which has a strong following.
Rehearsals for the show started in the middle of June. Ulrich sat in on the first two days of the cast reading the script, and heard how excited they were.
The cast of Pirate Heart is 鈥渇abulous,鈥� she said.
Crew members Bridge and Yuzick have done a great job of building the sets, too.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to seeing what they do with the set, because there鈥檚 a plank that has to work,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淥ne of the actors requested 鈥� that he actually be able to climb a mast partway, so that he could kind of hang there during a sword fight.鈥�
Members of the audience will be brought on-stage at some point each night for a non-speaking role.
Hughes and Towns are tasked with playing the two leads in the musical in their first respective appearances at the theatre. Hughes was in Estevan earlier this year to perform at a fundraiser organized for the theatre.
Both have enjoyed their experience at the theatre, and are looking forward to performing it for the public.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so much fun. I鈥檝e always wanted to play a pirate,鈥� said Hughes with a hearty laugh.
Rehearsals are coming together well, she said. The music is great, and it鈥檚 a fun adventure. The performers are having fun playing their characters.
Her character is a fierce woman, and Hughes said it鈥檚 one that鈥檚 easy to relate to, because the Rachel McQueen character wants to have a career and be independent, but also wants to fall in love during her adventure on the high seas.
Towns, meanwhile, said it鈥檚 great to have a summer live theatre in Estevan. He鈥檚 excited to be working on an original production being performed for the first time.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always doing the Oklahomas and the Carousels and the Sound of Music and the Fiddler on the Roof, which everyone wants to see and are great shows, but to be able to work on a brand new piece, that鈥檚 exciting, because it鈥檚 the first time this song has ever been sung, and it鈥檚 the first time this role has ever been done,鈥� said Towns.
It鈥檚 impressive that Ulrich and Redant have crafted such an impressive musical that is ready to be performed for the first time, he said.
Towns is looking forward to the sword-fighting and the other fight scenes. He鈥檚 worked with swords before, but there鈥檚 always a learning curve.
鈥淚鈥檝e done a few shows with big fights with broad staffs or broad swords or regular swords or 鈥� fencing swords, which are nice. A little easier to move about the stage.鈥�
His Jack Pettigrew character is a charismatic individual who exaggerates his sailing ability, and is trying to hoodwink Hughes鈥� McQueen character.
Vancoughnett hopes that people enjoy the story and the script associated with Pirate Heart. It鈥檚 a perfect musical for the summer.
鈥淲e have such a fantastic team, and we鈥檙e so lucky that all of these actors were available to come here and be part of the show. They鈥檙e all so talented,鈥� she said.
Persson and Playfair have been at the theatre in the past, while Vancoughnett has performed at the theatre for the Marvellous Wonderette and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Those experiences helped her promote the theatre to cast.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a lovely, relaxed place to be, all living together and camping,鈥� said Vancoughnett.
