Building community through theatre

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This article was published 19/12/2018 (2537 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Based on a 13th century European legend, Merlyn Productions’ The Beggar and the Wolf speaks to the universal theme of working together, and features three actors from North Kildonan in lead roles.

“It’s such a whimsical play, loaded with puns and absurd characters,” explained Laurel Fife, a first-year theatre student at the University of Winnipeg. “The stakes just get higher and higher. It’s so much fun.”

In her first major community theatre role, Fife plays Fabrica, the daughter of a wealthy merchant.

“My character is in love with the son of the rat catcher, but my father forbids me from marrying him,” she said.

Chantal Best, who plays baker Pandarolla, is also in her first starring role after appearing as a member of the townsfolk ensemble in Merlyn’s Puss in Boots, which ran in November.

“It’s been a great experience,” she said. “John (Chase) teaches as he directs. The actors who have been there for a while provide some mentorship. I find that style works, it’s quite supportive.”

Onstage, Best works closely with Sandy Marie, a veteran of several Merlyn Productions, who is playing miller Grindella in The Beggar and the Wolf.

“We are part of the wealthiest people in the village, so I won’t say we are full of ourselves, but we are not very nice to people like the rat catcher,” Marie, who moved to North Kildonan from Belgium six years ago, said with a laugh.

“We play off each other,” Best added. “We’ve become friends, which adds to it. We kind of bounce ideas off each other, we have that liberty. John allows us to go all out, and if it’s too much, he’ll reign us in.”

Both Best and Marie got into community theatre as adults as a way to express themselves creatively.

“You meet people who have the same passion as you. We’re like a big family,” Marie said. “The connection with the audience is something special, you don’t find that anywhere else.”

“I always wanted to be on the stage. I’ve done barbershop singing, choir, singing telegrams, that kind of stuff,” Best said. “I really enjoy the company. I’ve had a good time with the play.”

Despite entrenched class and social differences, the community in the play must band together when a wolf is spotted outside the gates of town.

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“Even though it’s goofy, it has a really strong underlying message of community and togetherness,” Fife said. “Community is important, especially this time of year.”

While geared towards children, as with other plays put on by Merlyn Productions, The Beggar and the Wolf appeals to all ages.

“We have some good one-liners in there,” Marie said. 

“The thing about this play, this play is so over the top and goofy, it’s been fun to take that and run,” added Fife.

The Beggar and the Wolf runs from Dec. 26 to 30 at the Forrest Nickerson Theatre (235 Pembina Hwy.). Show times on weekdays is 7 p.m., with shows at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12. For more information, visit www.merlyn.biz or call 204-415-2714.

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112

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