This outdoor folk tale was held INdoors at Gannon Commons area tonight — partly due to rain-wet seating area and partly due to the heat of the outdoors and the heat of the Hairy Man costume, which lives up to its name! (Costumes Chelle Peterson)
The show is only about an hour long, which makes it a good choice for the younger set — but older folks will enjoy it, too, with it’s folklore-ish style, imaginative pantomime and high energy. Director Blake Bowen’s note invites adults into a sense of joyful enchantment, and hopes to ignite a sense of wonder and a lifelong love of theatre in youngsters.
Jackson Schmitz is a ball of boyish energy and charm as Wiley, delightfully haunted by his fear of the dreaded Hairy Man. His Best Conjure Woman Mama (Trina Spitzley) sends him off to the swamp, armed with magic and spells — and his canine companion, Dog (Makayla Marrison) is wonderfully cute and vicious as the only creature that can strike fear into the heart of the Hairy Man (Nicholas Holzwart). Nicholas is a wild and boastful bully and formidable opponent — the aforementioned fun-scary.
The other “character” in the show is the “chorus” — which is much more than that. Vahlarée Aidan Kakela, Jacob Maurer, Laura Nguyen and Molly Sullivan, in their fun, vine-y costumes, collectively and individually serve as dream demons, the swamp, Hairy Man extensions, a tree, and any piece of furniture or additional prop/object needed. Their energy and choreography keeps the show rolling, literally and figuratively.
Director Blake is aiming to perform outdoors Friday-Saturday-Sunday… weather probably permitting. Check the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LCCPerformingArts/ (If no one is at the outdoor amphitheater behind Dart Auditorium when you arrive, it’s a short walk into the Gannon Building “commons” area, an air conditioned and dry venue.)
Wiley continues Friday/Saturday/Sunday at 7pm, free of charge. Bring chairs for the outside venue.