Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007

RANKIN INLET - Hundreds of theatre lovers filled the gym at Maani Ulujuk high school in Rankin Inlet this past week as the Missoula Children's Theatre returned to the hamlet for the seventh time.

Youth from all three Rankin schools were cast in this year's production of The Pied Piper.

The show was the first time the Piper was done in Rankin, and it was also the first time both actor-directors from Missoula were female.

Monica Niemi made the trip from South Bend, Indiana.

She said the Rankin kids were fun to work with.

"We had some scheduling difficulties, so the kids only had three days to learn the show instead of the usual five," said Niemi.

"They were able to do a great show because they really wanted to be here and that makes a big difference.

"It was a pleasure to work with the Rankin kids."

Niemi, 24, said the Missoula version of The Pied Piper was far removed from the traditional fairy tale.

"The traditional version is very dark and many people don't survive.

"But this version is lighter with a happy ending."

Melody Jones, 22, hails from Tyler, Texas.

She said her impression of Canada can be summed up in one word - cold!

"I'm not used to temperatures like this in the slightest," laughed Jones.

"I live down by the Gulf of Mexico and it's really warm there. It doesn't get down to freezing any more than, like, twice a year.

"So, it's been really different for me because I'm not used to being this cold."

Jones and Niemi both joined Missoula after attending a large unified audition which allows aspiring actors to strut their stuff for about 100 companies at once.

They received a call from Missoula shortly after the audition and began with the company this past summer.

"Missoula told us we were going to Rankin Inlet for our first week out on the fall tour and we had to go and look it up," said Jones.

"But we were excited about it because we've seen parts of the documentary (Little Red Truck) that was partially filmed here this past year."

Niemi said she had no idea Missoula even existed before getting a job offer from the company, let alone Rankin.

She said, ironically enough, there was a residency about 30 minutes from where she grew up that she knew nothing about.

"Working with Missoula is a wonderful opportunity to be able to act for a living and work with the kids at the same time.

"You learn so much because you get to act and direct together, and you get to visit some wonderful places like Rankin Inlet."