THE 2014 CHRISTMAS RADIO SHOW - Theatre du Mississippi

playwrights: Paul Sannerud and Steve Andersen
director: Paul Sannerud
sets: Paul Sannerud
costumes: Peggy Sannerud
lights: Billy Murphy
sound: Bob Stuber
props: Peggy Sannerud
stage manager: Kara Eggers

Act One: Labor Day Weekend 1939
Act Two: Thanksgiving 1939
Act Three: December 12, 1939

A radio show, presented on stage for a live viewing audience, set just prior to the second World War.  The invasion of Poland and how it affects the community of Winona, MN is the primary focus, with a tale of Jack Armstrong, All-American Boy visiting Winona as well.

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This is a nice annual production that Theatre du Mississippi puts on.  It is almost a variety show, with a story, an old-time radio show, and lots of music from local talent.

Most of the performances were really strong, though a few were a little over the top.  It is difficult to tell if this was a directorial choice or if the actors mostly just did it their own way (without a lot of direction).

The highlight, as one might expect, was watching the sound effects team creating a wide variety of sounds for the production.  It's nice to see them moderately well-highlighted so that we can see how the sounds were made.

The Jack Armstrong story was well done and one could see the older patrons in the audience enjoying their trip through memory lane when they listened to Jack Armstrong back in the day.

Some period(-ish) costumes and simple staging keep this lively enough for the viewing audience.

An enjoyable evening.

MARY POPPINS - LaCrosse Community Theatre

original music and lyrics: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
book: Julian Fellowes
based on the stories of P.L. Travers
new songs: George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
director: Greg Parmeter
music director: Diane Foust
choreographer: Jen Wilkinson
set design: Dillon McArdle
costume design: Mandy Parmeter
lighting design: David R. Kilpatrick
sound design: Chris Scheuermann

cast: Elizabeth Arihood; Olivia Belland; Anna Mae Beyer; Ryan Brown; MacKinley Bruemmer; Mel Carroll; Tanner Costello; Tom Desjarlais; John Divney; Christopher R. Dresen; Sheri Eimermann; Jeremiah Galvan; Brandon Harris; Maria Higgins; Connie Huebsch; Karla M. Hughes; Robert J. Jones; Joshua Kaiser; Jonathan Krocker; Sue La Crosse; Eric Leitzen; Chelsea Mann; Sean McDevitt; Joseph O'Flaherty; Scott Rathgaber; Darcy Reimler; Megan Taylor Seidel; Kristyn Taggart; Anna Taylor; Raina Thelen; Michelle Walker; Leslie Weber; Rhys Wolff

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This was my first opportunity to see this classic musical on stage and I was not disappointed.

The LaCrosse Community Theatre has consistently put on a top-notch production (all that I have seen) and this was the first production I saw in their new theatre.  Everything about it was gorgeous.

One of the hardest things about seeing a show that has a more famous movie connected to it is the tendency to compare characters, performances, and direction.  I'm as guilty of that as the next person and this show really was one of the harder ones to take on its own merit.  I'm a long-time fan of the movie and know it pretty well.

Where this took place the most is with the character of Mary Poppins herself.  Karla M. Hughes did a tremendous job with the role and had a gorgeous singing voice.  But her character of Mary Poppins was much tougher, more strict Poppins than the sugar-sweet Poppins we've seen in the film.  It took me a bit to accept this but once I did (maybe about half way through) it made good sense (why she took the harder edge).

All the songs and dances were fun and the chimney sweep number was truly a hit.

The scenery was very effective.  A simple look making use of a turn-table was wonderful.

I was particularly impressed with the park scenes and the statues that came to life.

All in all, a well-done musical proving that LaCrosse Community Theatre is a step above the typical community theatre.