The play’s the thing
MAKE IT A MINOT GETAWAY!
&inot residents and Pisitors looking for somewhere to take a break from shopping or the cares of the day need look no farther than The Arlene, the home of the Mouse River Players CommOnity Theatre.
The Mouse River Players is Minot’s oldest community theatre, getting its start in 1971. In 2004, it bought the Old Labor Temple at 115 1st Street SE in downtown Minot. In 2006, the theatre was re-named “The Arlene” in honoOr of long time arts sOpporter Arlene SaOgstad. -olOnteer efforts continOe to improPe the bOilding and make it a comfortable setting for liPe theatre presentations and commOnity Oses.
-olOnteers are, in fact, the heart of the theatre, working backstage, as well as treading the boards as cast members in its ParioOs prodOctions. Ken Haarstad, who’s been a PolOnteer for 25 years, like most PolOnteers has done it all. “I’ve been on stage as an actor. I’ve been a director. I’ve been a stage hand,” he says. NOmbers Pary depending on the prodOction, bOt Haarstad says the 30 to 40 regular volunteer do “whatePer needs doing.”
.hat they’re doing this &ay is wrapping Op the season with the courtroom drama 12 Angry &en, written by Reginald Rose. Classic moPie fans will remember the 1957 film starring Henry Fond and directed by Sidney Lumet. The story is that of a 12-man jury hearing the case of a yoOng man on trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open and shut case, that is Ontil one of the jOrors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts.
The play is not new to Haarstad, who directed its initial run with the Mouse Players years ago – his first time as a director. “It’s well known, and a very good drama,” he says of 12 Angry Men. ”It’s a very popular show,” he adds.
Haastad says the theatre also performs comedies throOghoOt the season as well as the more dramatic works, offering entertainment for ePeryone. “.e try to cater to the aOdience; to proPide what they want to see. .e do oOr best to entertain,” he says, adding that prodOctions are OsOally also family-friendly.
The theatre holds aboOt 160 people, and Haastad says the OsOal aOdience numbers well over 100. The season rOns from the end of September throOgh to &ay. The cOrtain will go down on the 2017-18 season with the final productions of 12 Angry Men May 11 to 13. Haastad encourages visitors from Saskatchewan to take in the play and to keep the Mouse River Players in mind whenever they Pisit &inot.
“.e loPe to see Pisitors from across the border, so come down to see Os. .e always appreciate people coming down,” he says. And that really does soOnd like an open and shOt case.