MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2009

Sell production offers slice of Americana

By Dave Tucker

Breeders Theater of Burien takes a nostalgic turn this month with its latest production, "Prairie Heart."

Playwright T.M. Sell's latest work is a touch of Americana, relating the hardships and passions of immigrant settlers in rural North Dakota.

Told through the eyes of Ingrid, a newcomer to the harsh frontier, Sell puts a face on the strength and fortitude of the previous generations who built this country.

It's 1893, and Ingrid Thorgrimsdottir arrives at the train station near Minot, North Dakota to serve as the nanny for a local family. There she meets Olaf Olson, a bachelor farmer, who informs her that her new employers have died of fever and the children have been sent to live with relatives.

Unemployed and penniless, Ingrid reluctantly agrees to stay on as Olaf's hired hand until she can earn the train fare back to civilization.

As the play progresses, the obvious events take place. The townspeople gossip, Olaf's friends provide counsel, and Ingrid takes a fancy to the local ladies' man.

Sell leads us through the next year as Olaf and Ingrid grow together, and the story moves us, not with surprises and plot twists, but with comfort and reassurance that the "ordinary" people of our history are indeed truly special.

Sell's inspiration came from the stories told by his grandmother and her siblings, natives of the rural North Dakota.

Nancy Warren, the resident composer and musician, enhances the show with period music and Norwegian folk songs, and one original song, "Prairie Heart."

Alan Wilkie's direction skillfully moves the story through its homespun chapters without allowing it to bog down with sentimentality.

As Olaf, Luke Amundson is charming as the hard-working lug with a huge heart. Adrienne Grieco is a delight as the delicate Ingrid, traversing the battle of the sexes in a range of emotion that can't be told by words alone.

Eric Hartley and Melissa Grinley play Olaf's mentor and his wife with Steve Scheide as the local playboy.

Rounding out the cast are Melissa Malloy as the owner of the general store, and J. Howard Boyd as the narrator and various characters.

Choreography is by Teresa Widner.

"Prairie Heart" is a heart-warming tale, reminiscent of "Our Town" and "Anne of Green Gables." It takes us back to simpler times, stressing the uniqueness of the everyday pleasures, and dwelling on the important things in life - love, friendship, and family.

E.B. Foote Winery in Burien and CorkyCellars in Des Moines sponsor the event, and as always, admission includes wine tasting before the show and during intermission. A wonderful smorgasbord of hors d'oeuvres is also available and the winery gift shop is open after the show.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd St.

"Prairie Heart' plays Jan. 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, and 31.

The show starts at 7 p.m., except for Sundays, which start at 2 p.m. Doors open thirty minutes prior to the performance.

All tickets are $ 20 and include wine tasting.

Breeders Theater has a history of selling out early; so don't delay in reserving your seats. And dress warmly, as the winery's theatre space is a little cooler that your average theater.

[Webmaster's note: There is also a 1 p.m. show on Sunday, February 1.]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009

Play at Breeders Theater sweet, satisfying

By Alec Clayton

There is nothing like a play by Breeders Theater at the E.B. Foote Winery in Burien. For starters, everything Breeders Theater does is original. The theater company was started by playwright T.M. Sell, a teacher at Highline Community College in Des Moines, and every play they produce is written by Sell.

The other thing that makes BT productions unique is their performances take place in a working winery in the basement of a shopping mall in Burien. It’s cold down there. Patrons are advised to dress warmly, and they are warmed up inside with wine tastings (two before the show starts, two during intermission and two more after the play). Plus, their hearts are warmed by the entertainment. If you have been there once you know to bring a pillow to sit on – the metal folding chairs are uncomfortable without one.

I’ve seen only one other BT production, a hilarious political spoof called “Crazy Naked,” but I understand that most of Sell’s scripts are outlandish comedies, often involving talking animals and aliens and other oddities. “Prairie Heart” is a departure from his usual fare. Set in a farming community in North Dakota in the 1890s, it is a tender love story based on tales told by the writer’s grandmother and her siblings who lived near Minot, N.D.

Ingrid (Adrienne Grieco) finds herself stranded at a desolate train station in North Dakota. She had expected to be met by the family that had hired her to work for them, but they had died. The only person at the station is a large and very dirty farmer named Olaf Olson (Luke Amundson), who is polite but terse when she tries to question him. Via a conversation that is strained and embarrassing for both of them, it is established that she is broke and stranded and doesn’t know anyone there.

Olaf offers to take her home with him. She says, “I’m not that kind of girl.”

Offended and bumbling, he replies, “You’re not pretty enough to be that kind of girl.”

Eventually, she agrees to stay with him to work for him on the farm. Gradually they fall in love, but neither of them knows how to express their feelings for one another. He is painfully shy and overly protective of her honor; she mistakes his shyness for aloofness – all of which results in a comedy of misunderstandings.

“Prairie Heart ” is a sweet play. Naturally sweet, not gooey and mushy. It combines many of the best elements of modern romantic comedies with the sincerity of period romances such as the great “My Antonia” by Willa Cather. Sell’s story is simple, the dialogue sparkling and the characters genuine.

Amundson looks the part of a Norwegian farmer who is described as large and dirty. He’s a physical fit for the part, plus he’s paired with a petite woman who makes him look larger than he is. His faltering speech and constantly astonished looks beautifully convey the impression of a lovestruck young man who doesn’t know how to do much of anything beyond tending to his goat and his horse.

Grieco is one of the most natural actors I’ve seen in quite some time. It does not seem that she’s acting at all – it simply seems that she is Ingrid. The only other time I’ve seen her on stage was as Maria in “The Sound of Music” at Lakewood Playhouse. She was utterly charming in that role, as she is here.

The rest of the cast – J. Howard Boyd, Melissa Grinley, Eric Hartley, Melissa Malloy and Steve Scheide – are all excellent. Boyd – as the narrator who slips into other roles from time to time – seems to truly care about Olaf and Ingrid and shows versatility when playing first a henpecked storekeeper and then a priest. Hartley – as the well-to-do farmer Anders Anderson – displays passion barely held in check as he and his wife, Evy (Grinley) try to gently steer Olaf and Ingrid toward one another and a better life.

All of the cast members, most noticeably Amundson, handle the Norwegian accents without faltering.

Sets and lighting are basically nonexistent, the only props are two stools and a blanket, and the costumes are simple peasant clothes by Melissa Sell. The music is provided by Nancy Warren.

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Prairie Heart

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 1.

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, 127-B S.W. 153rd St., Burien

TICKETS: $20 available at the winery and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462

INFORMATION: 206-242-3852

Originally published: January 23rd, 2009 12:02 AM (PST)