Civic Theatre presenting three short plays on love, death
News Photo by Darby Hinkley Director Lucas Moquin smiles during a conversation about the three short plays he is directing this month at Alpena Civic Theatre, “A Picnic Scene,” “Pyramus and Thisbe,” and “Love Letters,” showing Feb. 10-20. The entire program is about two hours long.
News Photo by Darby Hinkley Director Lucas Moquin prepares to enter Alpena Civic Theatre on Monday. The sign out front bears a heart stating, “Love and Death: Three Stories,” referring to “A Picnic Scene,” “Pyramus and Thisbe,” and “Love Letters,” showing Feb. 10-20.
News Photo by Darby Hinkley Director Lucas Moquin smiles during a conversation about the three short plays he is directing this month at Alpena Civic Theatre, “A Picnic Scene,” “Pyramus and Thisbe,” and “Love Letters,” showing Feb. 10-20. The entire program is about two hours long.
News Photo by Darby Hinkley Director Lucas Moquin prepares to enter Alpena Civic Theatre on Monday. The sign out front bears a heart stating, “Love and Death: Three Stories,” referring to “A Picnic Scene,” “Pyramus and Thisbe,” and “Love Letters,” showing Feb. 10-20.
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ALPENA -- This is a unique show, because it's three shows.
In his directorial debut at Alpena Civic Theatre, Lucas Moquin will present three one-act plays with an overarching love/death theme. But a funny love/death theme, if you can wrap your head around that.
The evening will kick off on Feb. 10, with "A Picnic Scene," which is about a "couple's stormy picnic lunch as viewed and commented on by two curious birds… who seem to be getting along just fine."
"A Picnic Scene" stars Vie Luther as Pek, Hannah Matzke as Tirp, Evelyn Bender as Arin, and Romeo Dozier as Jamie. The play was written by Taylor Boes, a friend of Moquin's from college.
"A Picnic Scene is more of a contemporary, lighter comedy," Moquin said.
The second one-act play, "Pyramus and Thisbe," is a humorous take on a tragic love story similar to "Romeo and Juliet." Two young lovers are separated by a somewhat animated wall in this play, originally written by the Greek poet Ovid.
"It's a play within a play," Moquin explained. "Shakespearean. It's basically a spoof of 'Romeo and Juliet.' It's just hysterical … it is the dumb show to end all dumb shows."
He added his rendition of "Pyramus and Thisbe" will be "break-neck, in your face, louder, faster, funnier."
Cast members for this presentation are Aribella Murillo as Thisbe, Joey Lanier as Pyramus, Mia Hauff as The Wall, Romeo Dozier as Lion, and Jessica Luther as Moonshine.
The third short play may be familiar to some patrons, as it was presented five years ago at Thunder Bay Theatre, featuring the exact same actors. "Love Letters" features a "touching review of a relationship as told through the reading of correspondence exchanged by one couple over a lifetime."
In "Love Letters," by A. R. Gurney, Carol Rundell and David Usher return to their roles as Melissa and Andy.
"It's a very moving piece," Moquin said. "An older couple, they're both onstage, and they're reading the love letters that they sent to each other … It's going to be a little bit of a tear-jerker."
Patrons might be surprised to see a very minimalist set.
"Part of my style is keeping things very simple," Moquin said, sitting on the edge of a black stage adorned with a park bench and not much else.
He is excited to present these one-act plays for ACT audiences, noting that many of the actors are young, with the youngest being 16.
"We have lots of new faces to the Alpena Civic Theatre stage," said Moquin. "Myself included."
Moquin performed in many shows at Thunder Bay Theatre prior to its temporary closure in July 2020 due to fire damage from the neighboring John A. Lau Saloon, which was totaled by fire. At the time, Moquin had just taken the helm at TBT as artistic director.
Bill Powell is the assistant director for these shows.
"I don't know what I would have done without Bill helping me out," Moquin said. "It's going to be a really exciting and interesting night."
This three-part production will open just in time for Valentine's Day. It will run at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, 11, and 12, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13, then again the following weekend, with the final show at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20.
Alpena Civic Theatre is located at 401 River St. For tickets, call the box office at 989-354-3624.