A little boy wakes to a snowy scene of wonder and fear all at once. Realizing he may have lost something very important to his family, he sets off on a long adventure with his dog to fix the problem. Northwestern College’s theater program brings light to this beautiful children’s play, written by Charles Way and directed by Ethan Koerner, using the black box theater and the help of some very talented students.
A big part of the atmosphere of a play is the actors who perform. It is about more than just how they portray the character, it also says something about their genuine character. A great example of this is Reece Tyrrell, a junior software engineering major, who plays Bjartur, the father, and the Fire Troll. Reece lights up the stage when he sets foot as the father in the play, and he had everyone giggling with his snores. Though he does such things with what seems like little to no effort, he comments on just how strange it can be preparing for a show. “It is a strange feeling preparing for a show. As we progress through our shows, the feeling of anticipation will eventually fade. This will be replaced with creativity in order to keep things new and fresh,” he said in an interview. Though he suggested that it can be stressful, there are parts that are very enjoyable, such as watching other peers perform. “My favorite part of the show is anything having to do with Madison DenHerder,” he said. “Her chaotic style goes well with her personality and she has helped me understand different ways of going about theater.”
Another actor who leaves a lasting impact on any audience is Madison DenHerder. As a senior theater major at NW, she has taken many steps on the stages of the theater building on campus, however, there is something special and different about this one that stands out from the rest. She plays Titla the dog and mentioned just how much she loves it. In fact, she has done so much with theater it does not even scare her anymore. “I have been in the children’s show for the last four years, so I’m not as nervous as I could be,” she said. “We have been rehearsing this show for months to perform for large groups of children, so I’m just ready for a crowd!” She also mentioned the dynamic of the dog and the boy. “This dog has been my favorite character out of all the plays I have been in. The dog and the boy create such a funny and sarcastic relationship. I just love it!”
Though the show is definitely fun for the cast and crew, the audience is expected to love it just as much. Jessica Schulmeister, a sophomore theater major and the actress who plays Gullbra the sheep, thinks that the community will respond really well to the show. “It’s fun, whimsical, and even touches deeper themes,” she said. Lexi Squier, a freshman business administration and theater major who also plays the characters Rosa, the mom, and the Ice Troll also believes that the audience will react well due to the amount of work the actors put into it.
Though there are certainly many aspects of fun to the play, the entirety of it teaches a lesson: stick together with those you love and keep on keeping on, even when things are tough. The show will be performed Friday, Oct. 6th at 7p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 7th at 4p.m.
