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Escanaba in Da Moonlight (2006) >
Village Life|Amador Ledger Dispatch
When the Soady clan reunites for the opening day of deer season at the family's Upper Peninsula camp, thirty-five-year-old Reuben Soady brings with him the infamous reputation of being the oldest Soady in the history of the Soadys never to bag a buck. In a hunting story to beat all hunting stories, ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT spins a hilarious tale of humor, horror and heart as Reuben goes to any and all lengths to remove himself from the wrong end of the family record book.
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Village Life
An Earthy Comedy Comes to Kennedy Mine
By David Jacobson, Village Life
(6.21.06) Jeff Daniels described his play "Escanaba in Da Moonlight," and the film derived from it, as "Jeremiah Johnson' meets ‘Dumb and Dumber." But it's more than that. Much more.
In Main Street Theatre Works' brilliant and bold production, now at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson, the play's uninhibited earthiness also reveals the proud communal bonds among rural folk who subsist directly off the land.
For any who recall the restrained B Street version some years ago, the current offering will come as a startling revelation. Maybe times have changed, but director Julie Anchor and her polished cast abandon all inhibition as they let go with a yarn that might embarrass drunken sailors. And the women in the audience outdo the men in uproarious laughter.
Though it's hard to believe, Escanaba is a real place, located in "Yooperland," the upper peninsula of Michigan. The setting is the Soady Deer Camp on a November weekend in 1989. From the beginning we know that our story is going to be a tall tale-indeed a very tall tale-by Albert Soady (Dick Mangrum), the family's patriarch. He reminds us that the love of his life was "the only girl in Escanaba to own a toothbrush."
The men of the family are about to embark on their ritualistic deer hunt, which includes drinking whiskey distilled out of syrup and eating lard-laced pasties. The opening day of deer season is "like Christmas with guns," when men set out to prove their manhood by their ability to put meat on the table. Albert keeps a journal, almost like a family Bible, and our story starts as Reuben (Earl Victorine), his son, is about to set the family record for failure to bring down a buck.
Reuben upsets his brother Remnar (Michael RJ Campbell) by demanding a break in custom. Instead of pasties he brings a magic potion from his Indian wife, Wolf Moon Dance (Renee DeGarmo). It consists of milk laced with ground worms and bugs, plus a moose testicle.
The men of the family are about to embark on their ritualistic deer hunt, which includes drinking whiskey distilled out of syrup and eating lard-laced pasties. The opening day of deer season is "like Christmas with guns," when men set out to prove their manhood by their ability to put meat on the table. Albert keeps a journal, almost like a family Bible, and our story starts as Reuben (Earl Victorine), his son, is about to set the family record for failure to bring down a buck.
Joining the Soadies in this repast is The Jimmer, who has returned from captivity in outer space, where he was conditioned to bellow doubletalk. Floyd Harden, who plays him, probably holds a theatrical record for scarfing down more liquid in a single gulp than any other actor known to man.
When the action can't possibly get more absurd, it does. Enter Ranger Tom (Anthony Scoggins), in full uniform. Amid flashing strobe lights he announces that he has seen God and then performs the funniest strip tease you are likely to see west of the Mississippi.
Topping even that, Reuben falls into a trance that's cured by plunging his nose into a place I daren't describe. When he recovers, after some dousing with magical porcupine urine, we learn that he has encountered a being even higher than God, an entity known as E Yah Ee, who possesses the body of Jimmer in order to help Reuben break his curse. Wolf Moon Dance appears briefly to certify Reuben's worthiness.
In spite of a few mosquitoes, the setting was close to ideal for the show, where the audience observed the action from folding chairs they brought from home along with their picnic dinners. Greg Motch provided an impressive set, the interior of a cabin dominated by a mounted buck's head. Much of the show's effectiveness came from Ken Stefferud's lighting effects and Allen Pontes' sound design. Cathy McClelland added to the fun with startling costumes, including long johns red enough to bring on color shock.
"Escanaba in Da Moonlight" runs Fridays and Saturdays through July 15, though some performances are already sold out. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate or may be charged by phone at (209) 267-5680, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Prices are $15 for adults, $10 for students 18 and under. For directions and other details, see www.MSTW.org
E-mail jacobsondb@aol.com.
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Amador Ledger-Dispatch
"Escanaba in Da Moonlight" is a Good Time for All
By Brandi Ehlers, Amador Ledger-Dispatch
(6.23.06)
If you are in the mood for a knee slapping, belly aching, side-splitting good time, then you should head to the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson for Main Street Theatre Works' summer season opener, "Escanaba in Da Moonlight."
"Escanaba in Da Moonlight," written by actor Jeff Daniels, is a buck of a hunting tale. It takes place on a weekend in November 1989 at the Soady Deer Camp, the world famous Soady Deer Camp, in Michigan.
Albert Soady, played by Dick Mangrum, narrates the story, in-between sips from his flask, of the opening day of deer season, 1989. His oldest son Reuben Soady, played by Earl Victorine, is at risk to become the oldest Soady on record to have never shot a buck. In a desperate attempt to avoid this label and ridicule from his brother Remnar Soady, played by Michael RJ Campbell, Reuben's Native American wife, Wolf Moon Dance, Renee DeGarmo, comes up with a plan complete with bull-ball milk shakes and porcupine urine.
As the night passes by, weird things begin to transpire. The Jimmer, played by Floyd Harden, shows up with news of his Chevy unexpectedly bursting into flames and Ranger Tom, played by Anthony Scoggins, from the Department of Natural Resources, drops by and claims he has seen God.
If you have trouble understanding the terminology used throughout the show, don't worry, you can consult the "Escanaba Dictionary - A Guide to Yooperizims" in the program. The cast worked together as if they really were family. The banter between the characters made it seem as if they had been at it for years. They all did their part to make you feel as if that is how they normally act.
Mangrum did a great job as the narrator and really brought you into the story with his occasionally talks to the audience to fill them in. It was truly wonderful to listen to him set-up and walk you through the story line. Victorine and Campbell were hilarious together. They played the dim-witted roles well and played off of each other even better.
Harden made The Jimmer come alive with the way he spoke, although you have to listen closely because he is hard to understand at times. His actions and the way he moved had to be the best part of the character. His most impressive ability had to be how fast he could chug liquids.
Scoggins fit the ranger role perfectly. His attitude and mannerisms were great - not only did he get to showcase his singing talents, he also had to strip down to his Bert and Ernie boxers and show some leg. DeGarmo did well, even with the short amount of stage time.
Under the direction of Julie Anchor, "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" was truly a pleasurable experience. The hunters were perfectly dressed by costume designer Cathy McClelland. The rag-tag bunch looked great in their authentic hunting garb. The set, designed by Greg Motch, makes you believe you are in the Soady cabin getting ready to go hunting.
The Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre was the perfect setting for "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" and really added to the experience. The only complaint I had with the setting was an alarm that went off twice during the show for a good 10 minutes. Even so, the actors were great and worked right through it.
This is one show that women out there might not have to drag their husband to the theater kicking and screaming. My date enjoyed it more than I did; a complete and pleasant surprise, because he doesn't "do theater."
Make sure you bring a comfortable chair, some bug spray and a sweater or blanket because it can get a little chilly. Picnics are allowed and encouraged.
"Escanaba in Da Moonlight" plays Fridays and Saturdays through July 15. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students 18 and under and available at the gate or at Lizzie Ann's/Bubblegum Books in Sutter Creek, Hein & Company Bookstore in Jackson or can be charge by phone at 267-5680 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For directions, visit www.mstw.org.
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