A Weekend With American Players Theatre, 2023

Daniel José Molina & Rasell Holt (foreground) in ROMEO & JULIET at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, WI, 2023. Photo by Liz Lauren.

James Ridge & David Daniel in "Swan Song," ANTON'S SHORTS at American Players Theatre, 2023. Photo by Liz Lauren.

​By Mary Boyle

As a theatre critic, I have the distinct pleasure of seeing a lot of live theatre but, if I'm being honest, my very favorite place to see it is at American Players Theatre in Spring Green.  The beauty of Wisconsin's Driftless Area, decked out in its summer finery and full of delightful places to eat and visit, is certainly a draw, but there is no other theatre company in the State that can claim such an incredible variety and quality of theatre over the course of one weekend than APT.  

With its 1,075 seat outdoor theater known as The Hill, APT is the second largest outdoor theater in the country, after The Muny of St. Louis, but they also have the intimate indoor Touchstone Theatre.  This is where many of Wisconsin's finest actors come to play in the summer and into the fall; all it takes is one visit to understand why.  Whether you are a theatre fanatic or simply looking for a nearby weekend getaway, a visit to Spring Green and APT is just the ticket.

Over the course of a three-day weekend, I was able to see 6 of APT’s 9 shows in their 2023 season and, interestingly, each day’s shows fit the same vibe: heartbreaking, hilarious, and high-minded.  You might consider seeing the productions that fit your preference or mood, since I truly cannot pick a favorite from among these six plays – they were all incredible in their own way.
 
The heartbreaking shows began with MALA, written by Melinda Lopez and directed by Rosa Joshi.  This fast-paced show takes place at the Touchstone, which is the perfect venue for a one-actor show.  Nancy Rodriguez is Mala, a middle-aged woman who is the primary caregiver for her 92-year-old mother.  Rodriguez is exquisite, phasing into her mother and sister seamlessly while making the audience feel as though they are having an intimate conversation with a dear friend.  She takes the audience from laughter to tears again and again as she navigates a journey nearly all of us will take, but that nobody is ever prepared for. “The most ordinary thing you can do is die.  The second most ordinary thing is to bear witness.”  I strongly encourage you to bear witness with her; you won’t regret it.
 
Thornton Wilder’s classic, OUR TOWN, broke my heart way back when I was in eighth grade when I first read the play, and it has broken my heart again every time I see it; however, I will continue to see this play at every opportunity, because we all need the reminder from time to time how very short and precious our lives are.  This three-act play follows the lives of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs, along with the people who make up the little town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire in the early 1900s.  Directed by Tim Ocel, this production stays true to Thornton’s original stage directions, with a very sparse set of two ladders and two kitchen tables with four chairs around them. With such minimal set design and no props, the actors must work extra hard to tell this story well, and they do.  Jim DeVita as Simon Stimson and Nate Burger as Howie Newsome, in particular, demonstrated such amazing depth that I found myself wanting to know more about these characters who are often overlooked. Sara Day was lovely in the role of the omniscient Stage Manager and James Ridge was flawless as Dr. Gibbs.  There is a reason Our Town is often called the greatest American play ever written; you will discover that reason when you see it at APT.
 
Looking for a laugh?  Look no further than THE LIAR by David Ives.  This play was adapted from a 17th Century French farcical romantic comedy by Pierre Corneille; it’s set in Paris in 1643 and is spoken entirely in rhyming couplets, which may sound stuffy and historical but, though it works in much the same way as a Shakespearean comedy, the language is thoroughly modern and thoroughly funny. This production, I assure you, will have you laughing from start to finish!  Daniel José Molina plays Dorante, a pathological liar who is new to Paris and quick to start drama.  Directed by Keira Fromm, The Liar is full of mistaken identities, romance, duels, and tall tales galore, with a barrel of laughs, to boot.
 
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR is one of Shakespeare’s funniest comedies starring one of his most beloved characters: the rotund drunken knight known as Falstaff, who is played brilliantly by David Daniel.  In this play, Falstaff, who finds himself in need of funds, hopes to fill his coffers and have fun by wooing the wives of two wealthy men, Mr. Page (Reginald André Jackson) and Mr. Ford (Nate Burger).  Ridiculously, he decides the best way to do this is to send Mrs. Page (Kelsey Brennan) and Mrs. Ford (Dee Dee Batteast) identical love letters.  Little does Falstaff know that the ladies are dear friends and, when they discover they’re both the object of Falstaff’s desires, they plan to have a bit of fun at the old knight’s expense.  Directed by Terri McMahon, this version of Merry Wives has fun, modern costumes and set design but stays true to the language of Shakespeare.  Especially dedicated to the language is Josh Krause as Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson, and Jim DeVita as Dr. Caius, a French physician – these two manage to steal the show with their linguistic hijinks that left the audience roaring. Also noteworthy is Nate Burger as the insanely paranoid, insecure, and jealous Mr. Ford. Merry Wives is about the most fun you can have with Shakespeare and is sure to please both the Shakespeare enthusiast and those new to the Bard.
 
For those of you who love live theatre, you’ll find truth in the words of Anton Chekhov, the great Russian playwright and short story writer who was perhaps the greatest fan of theatre who ever lived, but who also had a remarkable understanding of people that was way ahead of his time.  ANTON’S SHORTS, Brief Plays & Vaudevilles by the Young Anton Chekhov, adapted by Aaron Posner (who happens to be a Madison, WI native), is narrated by the venerated writer, himself, played so earnestly by Nate Burger.  These short pieces are full of insight and humor.  The entire cast is wonderful, but Marcus Truschinski’s Ivan Vasilevich Lomov is a wonder of physical comedy that really stood out.  My very favorite piece, though, was played by the incomparable James Ridge as Vasili Svietlovidoff, an old actor who has given his whole life to the theatre.  I’ve never seen James Ridge be anything but impressive, but here he demonstrates the full power of his brilliance and I count myself lucky to have seen it. 
 
My final production was Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET, adapted by Joshua Castille and John Langs and directed by John Langs.  The word “adapted” is a clue that this version of the Bard’s most famous tragedy has been somewhat altered, which is not uncommon.  I’ve seen R&J with the genders reversed, with an all-female cast, set in modern times, and more, but this production is the first I’ve ever seen with deaf actors and sign language; a bold and ground-breaking adaptation that brought out an entirely new layer to this timeless tale of tragic young love in Verona. In this story, both Romeo (Joshua Castille) and Friar Lawrence (Robert Schleifer) are deaf but, in this Verona, they are treated as anyone would be who spoke another language.  Romeo’s words are most often translated by his companion, Benvolio (Nathan Barlow), but are sometimes spoken by rotating cast members, which can be a bit distracting, at times.  To make this adaptation work, a scene was added in which Juliet (Isabelle Bushue) asks her faithful nurse (Colleen Madden) to assist her in learning “Romeo’s words.”  As a general rule, I am not keen on Shakespeare’s language being changed and, while I understand the reasoning behind adding text, I think the play would’ve worked fine without it; nevertheless, this version made up for those sins by having the best fight scene between Mercutio (Daniel José Molina) and Tybalt (Rasell Holt) I’ve ever seen and for pure emotional power.  Molina may be my most favorite Mercutio, yet, and Madden as Juliet’s nurse was spectacular, as was Jim DeVita as Lord Capulet.  You may think you’ve seen Romeo & Juliet before, but I promise you’ve never seen one like this.
 
Also playing at APT this season is THE ROYALE by Marco Ramirez and ONCE UPON A BRIDGE by Sonya Kelly.  Later in the season is PROOF by David Auburn.  For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: americanplayers.org/ or call the Box Office at 608-588-2361.

Know Before You Go

• American Players Theatre is not the place to wear your heels and a dress. The climb to The Hill and the Touchstone is through the woods along a gravel path; it is best to wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.  There is a shuttle available for those who cannot make the walk. 
• Unless it really starts to rain, the show will go on, or may only be delayed for a while; it is best to bring a raincoat and umbrella if there is any rain expected, though they do sell ponchos at the gift shop. 
• There are picnic areas available, should you care to bring a luncheon, or order a picnic before you go.  The Hill and Touchstone have concession stands with a good variety of drinks and snacks, as well as some pre-made sandwiches, and the downhill concession stand has made-to-order sandwiches and wine for your group.  

What to do in Spring Green
Spring Green is the home of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, as well as the iconic Wisconsin attraction, House on the Rock.  Spring Green, itself, is an adorable little main street community with some lovely shops and restaurants; I highly recommend making a stop at Arcadia Books and Homecoming Restaurant.  There are also two State Parks nearby: Tower Hill and Governor Dodge.  

For the history buffs, you can see two State Historical Sites just a bit further south down 151: in historic Mineral Point there’s Pendarvis and you will find the First Capitol in Belmont.  There's also historic Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, where you can check out the trollway and visit the nearby Cave of the Mounds.

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