Lumberjacks in Love

ESCANABA–Players de Noc Theater takes us deep into the back woods with, Lumberjacks in Love.

This musical comedy, the collaborative project of James Kaplan and Fred Alley, was born in Door County, Wisconsin. It shines a spotlight on the antics of a group of lumberjacks in the remote woods of Haywire Lumber Camp. This, of course, makes the set and storyline easily relatable as one imagines our Yooper heritage with our own early logging industry.

The warm and rugged set is cozily designed; built with wood from one of our own local businesses, Dombrowski Tree Service. The audience is drawn right into shanty life, with flapjacks and back-flapped flannels, weekly baths and outhouses. The saw-tooth tools of the trade hang on the cabin walls and the bunks are lit up by flickering lantern light.

The musical pulls the audience into the minimalistic bachelor life of a lovable group of lumberjacks, Minnesota Slim (Pete Ammel), Dirty Bob (Mark Cowman), Muskrat (Jim Soderberg), Moonlight (Brennan Richardson), and the Kid (Dana Harper). Which lumberjacks are in love? That, my Yooper friends, is like a moving target at an axe throwing contest.

This cast was perfectly selected as they each unfurl to reveal unique personalities and quirky character traits. Meshing them together in unpredictable pairings and ridiculous circumstances results in many laughs, as well as some serious questions. Does Dirty Dan get a bath? Does Muskrat get over his midlife crisis? Will Moonlight find the “person” of his dreams? Does the Kid get the layers peeled in time?

Director, Mark Ammel is the whole stack of flapjacks. His antics and energy on stage are infectious. Bravo to his casting the vision, designing the set, and leading this talented team of actors on stage. Ammel’s influence in the music and theater community is the opposite of “slim”.

Haywire lives up to its name when, unbeknownst to the lucky lumberjack, a mail-order bride shows up looking for Slim. Rose (Macy Neumeier) is vivacious and unpredictable, engulfing the shanty with spitfire energy and filling the gents with trepidation. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, another layer is peeled away, with each one more whimsical than the last. Not to be missed, is her sincere rendition of “Stupid, Stupid, Love”.

Travis DuBord, musical director, spreads merriment on the keys, breathing life into the cast’s patchwork pants resulting in frequent bouts of singing and dancing. Who’s dancing with who? The plot twists make determining this a challenge, down to the last note.

The lyrics are silly and filled with the quirky stereotypes of lumberjack culture, but the harmonies and timing of these musicians is spot-on. Adding a log to the fire, Marissa Quinzel and Madalyn Mayers’ choreography generated some dancing shenanigans and several blushing lumberjacks.

Players de Noc has done it again. Put your flannels on and come on out to the theater. Lumberjacks in Love is well-worth braving the cold. It’ll warm your heart and tickle your spirit.

The show takes place on the lumbered stage of the Bonifas Art Center: March 2, 7, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on March 3 at 1:30 p.m.