Manitoba passion play finding its feet
Just a few minor details remain...like the set
KEVIN
HEINRICHS
CW Managing Editor
– LaRiviere, MB –
|
Franklin Voth |
Six weeks before opening night on an ambitious outdoor theatre production of the passion play, and set construction hasn’t begun. In fact, driving past the site of the play off Highway #3 in the scenic Pembina Valley near LaRiviere, Manitoba, two hours southwest of Winnipeg, you probably wouldn’t even know there was something happening, except for a “coming soon” sign.
But there is. The cement stage still has to be finished, as do the costumes and the musical score, but the show will go on. It must, says producer Richard Klassen, or busloads of people who have already booked tickets to the mid-July productions would be disappointed.
“We don’t have a choice,” he says. “We’ve taken a step of faith.”
Klassen says things aren’t as behind schedule as they seem. What you don’t see while driving by the site, he says, are the dozens of women sewing costumes at home, actors gathering for weekly rehearsals and farmers planning how to pull off a set construction for a full-size rendering of a first-century village, crucifixion site and other scenes. There are also fundraising efforts and ticket sales managed from the small theatre office in nearby Manitou. And all with only two paid staff.
Oak Valley Productions
The production is the brainchild of Oak Valley Productions, a local volunteer theatre troupe made up of Christian amateur actors. Oak Valley has staged a number of performances of different plays and dinner theatre in local communities over the past few years. There will be about 50 actors in this year’s production and a few animals.
The Passion Play itself was written by playwright Sara Pasaciel, formerly drama professor at Providence College in Otterburne, Manitoba. The play will tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but there will be no overt altar call.
An original musical score was commissioned to Toronto composer Mike Janzen, originally from Steinbach, Manitoba. Jennifer Benson of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is choreographer.
The site is on 80 acres of previously undeveloped valley property dotted with oak trees and scrub brush. It was donated in memory of a local farmer, John Wiebe. The troupe received a $20,000 grant from the province to develop the site and stage, and began drumming up local corporate sponsors. The troupe has since received numerous offers of free work from local contractors or supplies at cost.
The site will eventually be a multi-use facility available throughout the summer. The stage, for example, is being engineered so that it can accommodate dance troupes and concerts.
“I think the community doesn’t realize the magnitude of this development yet,” says Klassen. The site will be able to accommodate up to 600 people a night, more than tripling the population of tiny LaRiviere.
“We want God to speak through the story,” says Carol-Ann Wiebe, who manages publicity for the event. “If we can somehow draw people in to consider what role God can play in their life.... The combination of the story and the beautiful setting...I see this as a dwelling place for God.”
The play runs July 14-16 and July 21-23. For tickets or more information call 204-242-3160.