By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
If you’re a troll, can you be friends with a gnome?
If you’re a gnome, what are the rules on being friends with trolls?
And can anything be done to curb prejudices and end the feuding?
Cast members of the Young Performers Theater play, “A Tale for the North Woods” rehearse Wednesday night at Odess Theater on the SJ Campus. The show opens 7 p.m. Friday. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
These are the questions 27 grade-school-age actors are grappling with in the Young Performers Theater play that goes on stage Friday.
“A Tale from the North Woods” will be presented by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Odess Theater.
“It’s kind of a Romeo and Juliet-Hatfields and McCoys story,” said director Zeke Blackwell. “There’s these warring families but it’s not a tragedy. ... There’s definitely a message about not judging people before you know them, and not necessarily buying into stereotypes and narratives without living the experience themselves.”
Blackwell said the story appealed to him for a number of reasons.
“I think we do live in a world where people have prejudices and people believe in stereotypes whether they think they do or not,” he said. “I think this story has a message about examining that. And we get to see the characters in the story do something really rare: we see them change their minds about deeply held beliefs. They are open minded enough to change their minds, which is a really valuable lesson, not just for young people in the cast but me as an adult and everybody in the world, and anybody who comes to see the show.”
Wearing gnome hats and troll fur collars, the cast members had their first dress rehearsal Wednesday. The show combines experienced thespians and newcomers who are treading the boards for the first time.
Connor Wentzel, 10, is one of the first-timers, playing a troll named Chulok. Connor’s brothers Caellum and Kieran are also in the YPT program.
“I’ve always wanted to do acting, and my brother (Caellum) actually inspired me to do it,”Connor said.
In the play, “there’s a war between trolls and gnomes, and my kind just wants to live in peace in our own part of the woods,” he said.
Another new actor, 10-year-old Ayla Ferguson, is a troll named Mooshlok.
“I’ve always wanted to perform or be an actor – not professional, but in some sort of play,” she said. “And I’m glad I get this opportunity because I love my character.”
This is her first YPT show as an actor but she’s watched the troupe’s plays.
“I’ve seen a lot of shows here and they’re amazing,” she said. But if she were to point to one play that inspired her to try out it was probably “Pirates of Penzance.”
“That one just really spoke to me,” she said of the 2020 production. “I just love being in theater.”
Ayla asked if she could put a personal message in this story: “I just want to thank my mom and my dad for putting me in this program,” she said. “It has always been my dream to be an actor. Thank you, mom and dad.”
“A Tale from the North Woods” is one of two YPT plays this fall. “High School Musical” will be presented next semester, the junior version for younger kids and the full-stage musical for older ones. Players can sign up at fineartscamp.org.
Tickets for “A Tale from the North Woods” are available at the same website, and will also be available at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for youths.
