Old Man Brunner Country
June 4th – June 27th, 2010
by Leo Dangel
The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview MN will open its 2010 season
in June with a remount of
Old Man Brunner Country,
a richly comic revue
of life in 1960s rural Midwest, adapted from books
by
Minnesota writer, Leo Dangel.
Writer Norbert Blei says Old Man Brunner Country “is that trip
to the farm we never forgot.” Published in
1987, Dangel places it “Near the end
of the Millenium” — in a world devoid of pesticides,
cell phones, i-pods
and computerized tractors. Old Man Brunner Country has
the flavor of a family photo album, snapshots that charm, amuse, and disarm. Driven by narrative,
the comedy contains undercurrents of feeling,
grief and tenderness to create an enactment
of universal human mysteries, all captured in understated language.
Blei calls Dangel’s work, “Huck on the plains.”
In 1998, Director Sally Childs conceived of this richly comic revue
for Lyric Theater of Minneapolis. She collaborated with Ron Duffy,
who directed
and designed the first production, which premiered at a Writers’ Conference at Southwest Minnesota University in Marshall where
Dangel taught and then
opened at the Hennepin Center for the Arts in Minneapolis. The show traveled to several venues, including Plainview,
where
it was performed in the newly purchased implement dealership building at 412 W. Broadway before its conversion to the Rural America Arts Center. The actors played on a small platform
with improvised lighting, and seating was made from straw bales
mounted on farm wagons brought in through
the huge garage door. Where once there
were tractors, now there were actors.
With characters such as Arlo, Benny, Milo, Berniece, Pa
and Old Man Brunner, the show was remounted as part of
the 2001 Jon Hassler Theater season.
Since then Dangel has published another book, The Crow on the Golden Arches.” According to Director Sally Childs, “Dangel uses dialogue to pull us in and
then surprises us with delightful punch lines.” Rohan Preston agreed in his 1998 review for the
Star Tribune, “Some of the work reveals Dangel’s ribald humor.
Other pieces sport the wiseacre bravura of a cowboy poet.”
Kristen Mathisen and Jack Carter will recreate their roles
as “Her”and “Minstrel.” New to the cast are Bill Studer as “Old Man Brunner,”
David Roberts
as “Him” and Josh Larson
as “Young Man.” Dale Pfeilsticker will stage manage. Director
Sally Childs will incorporate new work
by Dangel
and plans to
explore more fully the liberties bestowed by memory and fantasy
in
this new production. Paul Skattum’s set and Ben Hain’s
lighting
will underscore these facets.
Pictured in photo above: (Front) Joshua Larson (YOUNG MAN), David Roberts (HIM), Kirsten Mathisen (HER).
(Back) Bill Studer (OLD MAN BRUNNER), Jack Carter (MINSTREL)