By Sara Strong
Green Earth Players cast and crew of "Oliver!" are working their way through the last week of rehearsals. In the final days before the curtains part, they polish costumes, staging and elocution.
During this time they are also reminded that the long rehearsals that gave them direction also made them close as a team.
Led by Sioux Falls director, John Beranek, this production may be slightly unique in that some participants came with those bonds already formed.
For example, three generations of the Van Aartsen family took on roles for "Oliver!"
Darrel Van Aartsen, his father, Gerrit, and son, Mark, all have roles in the play. Darrel's sister, Peg Gacke, her daughter, Andraya, and son, Landon, will also share the stage with the family.
Darrel said their time backstage was spent just as closely with other cast members as with each other, even though it was a nice experience for the family.
Many other parent and child teams and sibling sets help make up the cast. Lynette Stensland and Dan, Nathan and Matt Stensland-Bos; Martha, Gretchen and Kaia Nowatzki; Tyler and Alex Moran; and Audra and Alyssa Novotny are just some of the other family members that take part in the production.
Co-workers also help complete the players as in the case of Grace Lutheran Church's two pastors, Maurice Hagen and Dell Sanderson, who play less than savory characters.
Regardless of the relationships behind the scenes, the audience will be impressed by what they see on stage as area talents perform in Luverne.
Just ask the director. Beranek said that even though a lot of the cast was made up of theater novices, "It'll be a heck of a show."
He said, "The most amazing thing to me is to go from the beginning when they think they can't perform to when I know they can and they realize they can. It's a fun process."
Beranek said that "Oliver!" shouldn't be thought of as a childrenÕs show with so many parents working beside their children on and off stage.
"I'm thrilled at the network of support this show has," Beranek said. Costumes, sets and music have gotten enough attention from the crew and volunteers that he can put his focus where he is most needed - the performances.
When people see the show, Beranek said they should give credit where it's due. "Whatever people like about the play, Leona [Hoek] deserves as much credit as me. She is a gem an absolute jewel. I think she'd play 24 hours a day if she thought someone would be singing and dancing to it."
Keeping close to cast and crew helps make the performances, Beranek said. "I'm a real strong believer in character development and to do that we have to get to know each other."
It's ironic that a story of orphans in London is played so believably by a cast of family and friends in a small Minnesota town.
About Oliver
"Oliver!" is the musical version of the classic novel, "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens. Lionel Bart reputedly had never read the somber tale when he decided to make a musical out of it.
At first he planned a rock-and-roll version but changed his mind. His finished show retained the most important parts of Dickens' plot, but to make it a musical comedy, two villains became funnier, the gang of child-thieves became lovable, and London became less alcohol-and-drug-ridden.
In the play, Oliver Twist, Mike Graff is a young orphan living in a workhouse. The famous scene where he dares to ask for more food is what prompts the overseer to sell him. He then meets Nancy, played by Chelsea Cronin, who recognizes the goodness in Oliver. While on the streets of London, he is falsely arrested and taken into the respectable home of Mr. Brownlow, played by Dan Nath.
Nancy hopes Oliver will have the kind of life that can never be hers. A critical point in the play comes when the evil Bill Sykes, whom Nancy loves despite his ill treatment, fears that Oliver knows too much about their criminal activities. He wants the child recaptured, and she is torn between her love for Oliver and her love for Bill, played by Kevin Aaker.
The decision Nancy makes produces the musical's conclusion.
'Oliver' has one of the biggest cast and crew of any GEP production.
Crew members are: John Beranek, Tammy Makram, Fred Manfred, Dianne Ossenfort, Gerald Harsma, Jim Harsma, Noreen Woodle, Linda Dummer, Leona Walhos-Hoek, Renee Richardson, Bonnie Johannsen, Cheryl Nath, Terri Ebert, Jo Wulf and Kathy Deuschle.
Cast members are: Mike Graff, Matt Stensland-Bos, Dell Sanderson, Chelsea Cronin, Kevin Aaker, Maurice Hagen, Martha Nowatzki, Dan Stensland-Bos, Phil Voigt, Fran Bohlke, Carolyn Drenth, Andraya Gacke, Marlene Wassenaar, Cindy Baldwin, Colleen Nath, Dan Nath, Eric Ranschau, Gerrit Van Aartsen, Darrel Van Aartsen, Audra Novotny, Theresa Graff, Peg Gacke, Julia Lovett, Annie Jo Uithoven, Lynette Stensland, Linda Iverson, Traci Carlson, Zachary Sanderson, Gretchen Nowatzki, Stephan Harsma, Kaia Nowatzki, Matt Blomgren, Danielle Powell, Mason Makram, Brittany Sandager, Alex Moran, Carrie Jo Bauer, Tyler Moran, Amber Deutsch, Mark Van Aartsen, Kristin Harsma, Nathan Stensland-Bos, Matt Nath, Mitch Bauman, Landon Gacke, Hayden Bauman, Stephanie Van Wyhe, Chase Hoffman, Hilary Deragisch, Blade Fry, Hannah Baartman, Shane Kramer, Alyssa Novotny, Dustin Deutsch, Abby Elbers, Ben Nath, Alex Lovett, Ian Connor, Cheryl Nath, Rachel Nath, Kyle Harsma, Sydney Bosshart, Diana Hanson, Gabrielle Luethje, Hailey Stulen and Caitlyn Deutsch.
To go
WHAT- "Oliver" the musical
WHEN- 8 p.m. Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, April 19, 20, 25 and 26 (no show Saturday, April 27). Sunday shows start at 2 p.m. April 21 and 28.
WHERE- Luverne High School Little Theater
HOW- Tickets are on sale starting April 12. Call the box office at 283-8294 or stop by the Carnegie Cultural Center, Luverne, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. (Season ticket holders can purchase from 1 to 9 p.m. April 11.)