Dramatic return

The two years of work paid off as theatre returns to Chippewa Park for families to enjoy, says the writer of a melodramatic play.

A Streetcar Named Chippewa presented by Rob MacLeod’s Capitol Players held its first performance at Chippewa Park Pavilion on Sunday. Set in the 1920s, the melodramatic play tells the story of an evil villain who tries to take advantage of a Chippewa community out to raise money for a streetcar.

"It’s so fun," said Janis Swanson, co-found of Rob MacLeod’s Capitol Player. "I can’t wait until there is an audience. Rehearsing in an empty hall all the time kind of gets boring. It’ll be really exciting to have an audience."

Swanson played Ginny Germaine, a loyal and colourful sidekick to Amanda Love. Swanson also wrote the play under a penname and wanted to tell a local story with some history to it.

Chippewa Park had hosted a theatre production about 15 years ago. Swanson said the theatre shows became a family staple and wanted to recreate those experiences by bring back theatre to the park.

‘We’ve been working for two years to get it back because the pavilion is a perfect setting for the melodrama because people remember what the plays were like back then," she said.

Swanson said it wasn't difficult getting the city of Thunder Bay and Friends of Chippewa Park to agree to the idea of having a melodrama play.

Jasmine Martinie Ruberto, 23, played the damsel in distress Amanda Love. Martinie Ruberto described her character as someone desperate to get out of her small town and escape to the big city of "Tronna". While understanding where her character is coming from, Martinie Ruberto said she didn’t share the same desire to leave and make her name known in a bigger city.

"I think there is a lot here for me," Martinie Ruberto said. "I think Thunder Bay in the last 10 years has started to come into the art scene but I think people may find it easier some place else. But I see a lot of people making it here and if I wanted to pursue an art career I think I could."

A graduate from Lakehead University visual arts program, she went back to school to complete her bachelors of education. She said she didn’t have much interest in acting when she was younger but grew to love the energy when performing in front of a live audience.

Performances for the play are on Sundays and Thursday from July 4 –25. Tickets are $5 at the door with children under five free while accompanied by an adult.