PREVIEW
Tuck Everlasting
St. Albert Children’s Theatre
Nov. 22 to 25 and Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
Arden Theatre
5 St. Anne Street
Tickets: $28 adults, $22 children/seniors Call Arden box office 780-459-1542 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca
Although director Janice Flower spends a huge chunk of time behind the stage at St. Albert Children’s Theatre, she still has her pulse on New York’s Broadway scene.
When rights to Tuck Everlasting were released in 2016, she snapped them up enthusiastically. Never mind the story is unfamiliar to many. As artistic director of the children’s troupe, Flower was immediately on board with the musical’s themes of life, love, family and immortality.
“Initially, I liked the music. For me it was a reminder of The Secret Garden – folky but poppy at the same time,” said Flower.
But the show’s message was also an easy sell, that life is made up of beautiful moments and we should stop worrying and enjoy the present.
“There’s so much pressure on kids these days and this is a good reminder to enjoy the people around you – your family, your friends. Things are so rushed nowadays. Whatever time you have left, enjoy it. We only get one ticket,” Flower added.
Adapted from Natalie Babbitt’s 1975 children’s novel of the same name, Tuck Everlasting is set in the 19th century at Treegap, New Hampshire.
It revolves around Winnie, 11, a young girl whose father just died. Her widowed mother is honouring the traditional one-year mourning period. That means Winnie is forbidden from roaming and attending events.
An overprotected, free spirit, Winnie feels trapped and escapes to the forest where she meets Jesse Tuck, 17, who is actually 102 years old. Nearly 90 years ago, his parents and brother inadvertently drank from a spring in the forest that makes people immortal.
The foursome never age. They are frozen in time. Having lived first-hand through the spring’s dangerous power, the Tucks prevent the intrepid Winnie from drinking to quench her thirst.
“The Tuck family wouldn’t want others to live their life. They see it as a curse instead of a gift. Their life has lost significance, because they can’t get close to anyone. They don’t age and every few years they have to move. With Winnie, they realize they can still make a difference, and Winnie is as good for them as they are for her.”
Unlike some of the company’s previous winter shows whose strength lay in froth and humour, this musical requires more depth in character. It challenges the 32 actors to create three-dimensional characters capable of conveying a broad range of emotions.
Jillian Aisenstat (A Christmas Story/Nutcracker), a longtime SACT actress who notched up numerous roles, relies on her own personality.
“Winnie and I are a lot alike. We both crave adventure. She likes the outdoors and I like kayaking. She’s very social and so am I,” said Aisenstat.
In the 2002 movie starring Alexis Bledel and Jonathan Jackson, Winnie and Jesse meet and fall in love. But the musical develops along a different path.
“You definitely expect it to be romantic, but I think it’s more of a platonic relationship. It’s like meeting a best friend. We immediately click. We have the same brain,” Aisenstat explained.
At one point Winnie is asked to choose between continuing life as a mortal or joining the Tucks.
“She realizes that despite the relationship she has with Jesse, there are so many other things in life. Jesse doesn’t really have a life. You can’t have a life without dying.”
Pretty profound words.
Ben Brown, 17, a Paul Kane High student with five company shows under his belt, plays the freewheeling Jesse, a world traveller who returns home after a 10-year absence. To avoid arousing suspicions from neighbours, the never-aging Tucks part company and only regroup at the forest every decade.
“Jesse is immortal. He’s really taken to it and does his best to enjoy it. He loves adventure. He loves to travel and explore. He also has a reputation as a bit of troublemaker. He’s not always thinking. He acts more with his heart,” said Brown.
On the opposite side of the live-forever divide is Miles, Jesse’s older brother. Miles is determined to keep the spring a secret.
At the time Miles drank from the spring, he was married with a child. But when his wife realized he could not age or die, she took the child and left.
“He’s so heartbroken from his wife leaving, he’s afraid to put himself out there. That’s part of his rigidity,” said Declan Findlay, 17, also a Paul Kane High student who plays Miles.
“He is quite complex. He’s seen the worst effects. It’s been a real hard journey and he’s been away from home for so long and it's affected him. It is psychologically and emotionally difficult for him.”
In every charming fable there’s a villain that personifies evil and creates tension. In this narrative, it’s the Man in the Yellow Suit (Dustin Cook), a greedy carnival worker determined to control the spring and bottle it.
Certain key elements of the story are told through movement. Choreographer Jackie Pooke describes the folky, naturalistic movement as “integral” to the plot.
For instance, Partner in Crime, is a huge dance break set at a fair where Jesse and Winnie cement their relationship and decide to travel the world together.
“We wanted to give the kids an analogy of a country hoedown feel. Everyone is swept up in the moment,” Pooke said.
Dressing the triple threats was no easy job. Marissa Kochanski returns as costume mistress with the task of finding more than 200 costume pieces for the actors.
As a passionate thrift-store browser, she discovered clothing in cottons, linens and natural fabrics at a low cost. Her biggest challenge was finding men’s pants.
“Men’s waists have crept down. A century ago pant waists were higher up and I’ve had to hide it with a vest,” she laughed.
Despite any and all challenges, the cast and crew are eager to start performances running Nov. 22 to 25 and Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.
Kochanski closes by saying, “It’s such a bittersweet story – mostly sweet. It makes you think about what you’d do. It’s a good show for family ‘cause you have a lot to talk about.”
For more information, visit https://stalbert.ca/exp/sact/events/events/
