Time Arc Theatre presents two-part melodrama in Superior
Jul. 12—Editor's note: Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is an actor in the production.
SUPERIOR — Time Arc Theatre, LLC is ready for some silliness with an old-fashioned melodrama after a two-year hiatus resulting from the covid-19 pandemic.
Set in 1893 Superior, when the Grand Opera House was new and flourishing and Chicago was hosting the World's Fair, "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down" features a dastardly villain, an innocent heroine and a simple, good-hearted hero.
In keeping with Time Arc Theatre's local history-based theme, the melodrama interweaves local historic figures with slight changes to their names, like the well-known lake sailor, Charles Barker and Miss Fanny Prestige, proprietress of the waterfront music hall, The Gem.
The two-part melodrama is a collaboration between playwright Kathy Laakso and musician Bruce Nelson, 1973 graduates of South Shore High School. After high school, Laakso moved to Texas and Nelson worked as a music director in Minnesota and Moscow, Russia.
"The seeds of our interests were already planted while in high school," Laasko said. "... We both ended back up here in Wisconsin, and one day as we were visiting and catching up, I suggested we collaborate on a musical. It's been a wonderfully fun experience to work together, and I hope that this well be first of future musical theater projects."
The melodrama revolves around a young girl, the daughter of Capt. Parker who is expected to come into money one day, and a villain who would like to force her to marry him. He finds drunks at the Gem to serve as the bungling accomplices to rid the hero of the story.
The melodrama will be performed at the Elk's Club, 1503 Belknap St., in the Harbor Room on the lower floor. Sponsored by Vintage Italian Pizza, Keyport and Kathy Kadlecek, the production runs Friday, July 15, Saturday July 16, and July 22-23 at 7 p.m. with Sunday matinees July 17 and July 24 at 2 p.m.
The Elks will provide a cash bar for patrons.
Laakso, the owner of Time Arc Theatre, said she is excited to bring theatre back to Superior with a cast of regulars and newcomers: Jane Wester, Matt Davey, Don Johnson, Maria Lockwood, Andre Letendre, Tiff Willie, Brady Hansen, Dorian Ackman, Matthew Plesko, Kathy Levine and Kathy Kadlecek.
To protect each other and the actors, Time Arc requests that masks are worn during the productions.
"Everyone is ready to come back," Laakso said. "We're all ready to have some fun."
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. To order tickets and pay by check, call 218-341-4552 or to purchase tickets go to https://timearctheatre.ticketspice.com/you-cant-keep-a-good-man-down.
