ACTORS reheasrse a scene from “The Medicine Show,” a production of Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble that will be staged outside in a Bowdoinham field over three weekends. The production features “locally grown” actors hailing from Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Falmouth and Portland.
Z iggurat Theatre Ensemble offers families a unique theatrical experience for the Halloween season with the presentation of “The Medicine Show,” an original play using masks, drumming, song and dance that will be performed outdoors in a wooded field in Bowdoinham.
A news release describes the show as follows:
Drawing upon local Native American lore, “The Medicine Show” will transport audiences back in time and far from civilization to tell a harrowing story of heroism, sacrifice and redemption.
Tormented by demons from his dreams, a young boy alone in the wilderness stumbles upon a traveling medicine show whose performers are all stricken by a mysterious malady. Believing their illness is caused by the same sinister figures of his nightmares, the boy battles these demons.
“In ‘The Medicine Show’ we wanted to provide a mythic experience from a distinctly American point of view, in this case, exploring the mythic landscape of Bowdoinham before it was settled 250 years ago. Local Native American lore, the struggle of man alone in the wilderness, the landscape of our dreams and nightmares are all ancient stories, which resonate powerfully today,” said artistic director Stephen Legawiec. “In our play, there are two heroes, a boy and a girl, each battling their own demons to bring about life, but the audience takes a similar journey by venturing out in the night, into the woods, into an unknown landscape. We think it’s the perfect outing for the Halloween season.”
The cast is composed of an ensemble of young Maine actors. Hailing from Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Falmouth and Portland, the artists in this show are “locally grown.” Ziggurat’s unique rehearsal process draws upon the actor’s individual creativity to develop much of the play.
Of rehearsals, mask and movement director Dana Wieluns Legawiec said, “We asked the actors to share details from their nightmares, which we then explore from the perspective of movement: flying, falling, floating, transformation, disintegration. We want to create an off-kilter world of the subconscious — absurd, unexpected, alternately funny and frightening — that the audience will respond to.”
The cast features Astrea Campbell Cobb, Dylan Chestnutt, Laura Christman, Kyle Dennis, Lilly Victoria Gardiner, Stephen Legawiec, Michela Micalizio, Hillary Perry and Ben Proctor.
The artistic personnel includes direction by Stephen Legawiec and Dana Wieluns Legawiec; Dana Wieluns Legawiec; musical direction by Stephen Legawiec; technical direction by Stacia Saniuk.
Performances, located outdoors in a field in Bowdoinham, will be 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 and 14, 20 and 21, and 27 and 28. Audiences will park at the Bowdoinham Public Works Parking Lot at 8 River Road (adjacent to Mailly Waterfront Park), where they will be led as a group on a five-minute hike to the performance site. Appropriate footwear and clothing, as well as insect repellent, are recommended. Guests with a disability may request assistance getting to the site.
Performances will be canceled in the event of heavy rain, but that decision will only be made one hour before curtain time.
The performances are planned as a fundraiser for Ziggurat Theatre Ensemble to help prepare for next summer’s season. All tickets are $10.
For information, call 319-7289 or visit www.ziggurattheatre.org.
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