Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

Mary (Stephanie Eccles) ponders the situation as Moor Folk Tia Maktar, Hayley Kolit and Elinor Mercer, back row from left, Brayden Subgut, Meeka Putulik and Kailee Karlik, middle row from left, and Bonnie Irkootee, Saskia Curley and Derek Fredlund, front row from left, join Dickon Sowerboy (Ethan Makpah) second from left, to put on the pressure during a Missoula Children's Theatre production of The Secret Garden in Rankin Inlet this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
The Missoula Children's Theatre made its return to Rankin Inlet this past month.

Travelling actors and directors Jocelyn Bjornstad and Laura Barron teamed with local students to put on a sterling performance of The Secret Garden.

The musical is an original Missoula rendition, and tells a classic tale of a person learning to appreciate what surrounds them in life.

That someone was Mary, wonderfully portrayed by Stephanie Eccles, 14.

Eccles has performed with Missoula during its past seven stops in Rankin.

She said the role of Mary was the biggest she's ever had in any of the productions.

"We brought our forms into the audition at the last minute, and I just wanted to try and see which part I'd end up getting," said Eccles.

"I was pretty excited when they told me I had the lead role of Mary.

"She was fun to play and she was, kind of, like me.

"She had a bit of an attitude, but she turned out nice."

Eccles said this year's play was a bit different because it was a musical.

She said the younger kids remembered their lines, performed well, and were always bubbly and excited about being in the play.

"It was a lot of fun and I rate it a 10 out of 10.

"This play was more co-ordinated and organized than previous years.

"The two directors were good to work with because they weren't stuck-ups.

"They were nice if you behaved, but, if you didn't, they'd tell you the consequences right away and not let things slide."

Eccles said Missoula keeps getting more popular with the younger kids in the community, but not so much with the older students.

She said that's mainly because they don't want to miss a week of school and then have to make it up.

"Some of the older kids might not want to get embarrassed either, but it's mostly about making up the missed time.

"I've enjoyed it every year and I plan to audition again next year."

Sidney Nichol has also been auditioning for Missoula for the past six or seven years.

Nichol, 14, said he keeps coming back for the fun of being in the play, which helps take his mind off other things going on in his life.

He landed the part of a sick 11-year-old boy (Colin Craven), a role he was attracted to because of the boy's way of dealing with things.

"I'll be honest about it," said Nichol.

"I enjoyed playing Colin because I got to mock other people.

"The play was pretty good, though, and I liked all the songs."

Nichol said there were more songs this year than any play he'd been in before.

He said from what he could tell, everyone in the cast really had a good time.

"Some of the older kids might not have been interested because there was no piano player this year, so it was a little plain when we were singing.

"But this was the biggest role I've ever had, so I really enjoyed it.

"I'll be out again if Missoula comes back."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.