Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2007

RANKIN INLET - The Missoula Children's Theatre will be returning to Rankin Inlet for a seventh consecutive year.

The troupe will be working with students from all three Rankin schools to put on a rendition of the classic children's fable, The Pied Piper.

The Missoula Children's Theatre returns to Rankin Inlet this coming week on the heels of a highly-successful production of Robin Hood in 2006. - NNSL file photo

Project co-ordinator Julie Millen says Missoula arrives in Rankin on Sept. 17, with the student-only show being scheduled for Sept. 21 and the main performance slated for the following afternoon on Sept. 22.

"Having the final show on a Saturday is a change from past years, but it holds the promise to work well for the community," says Millen.

"This year's show is an original adaptation of The Pied Piper, which I'm sure the community is going to enjoy.

"The auditions will be held at Maani Ulujuk school once again, and we're expecting about 200 kids to audition for roles."

The show is set in the town of Hamelin, which becomes overrun with ravenous rats.

Sarah, an orphan girl, and the other people of the township turn to the mayor of Hamelin and his council when the town is threatened.

They call on The Pied Piped to save them from the troublesome creatures.

Rankin theatre-goers will have to wait to find out what happens when the town is unable to pay The Pied Piper, and its children are led away along with the rats in this modern adaptation.

Millen says 2007 also marks the first time Missoula is sending two female actor-directors to oversee the production. In the six previous years, one male and one female representative were sent.

She says the Missoula documentary, The Little Red Truck, should also be released this coming fall.

"Most people will remember filmmakers Rob Whitehair and Pam Voth were in Rankin last year to shoot film for the documentary.

"We've been told the documentary focuses on six different communities and Rankin is one of them."

Millen says Whitehair and Voth will be coming to Rankin at a later date to screen the documentary.

She says it takes a lot of co-operation to keep the show going every year.

"We really have to thank First Air for providing a discount on the tickets to bring the directors here, as well as the Kivalliq Inuit Association for its continued support.

"Also, this whole thing wouldn't be possible without the co-operation of the schools in freeing up their gyms for rehearsals and the plays themselves, so we really appreciate that as well."