Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

Trying to teach people about racism is hard to do, but screen writer Mary Lynn Regnier has found a way.

Regnier has written a new play entitled ìTrouble Spotsî that is being performed by a group from a Masquerís Theatre collaboration with Community Educationís Advanced Camp.

ìTrouble Spots,î which has a Dr. Seuss type feel to it, is about two cities who are in all black and white spots. One city, who has white spots on black, believes it is better than the other city, which has black spots on white.

The two cities bicker back and forth until a ìman of reasonî comes to town.

ìThe man of reason comes from a place where the two cities were divided,î said Jessie Bystrom, director. ìHe tells the cities how he was the only survivor after the racism caused the cities to destroy each other.î

ìThen an event causes the cities to add color into their lives,î said Cory Regnier, director, ìand they cannot tell each other apart.î

Bystrom went on to say that the cities then learn to embrace their differences instead of being so judgemental.

Instead of different color skin, the cast uses different color clothing to describe the many colors of skin.

The directors, Bystrom, Regnier, and Caleb Rotach, worked with the students not only on acting, but also set design.

ìWith the Advanced Camp, since the group is a little older, is more about set construction and learning about sets,î Rotach said.

Regnier said the cast of ìTrouble Spotsî is split into two different groups and therefore a lot of team building exercises had to happen.

In the fall ìTrouble Spotsî will go on the road to area elementary schools and possibly Junior highs to perform the play.

ìIn case some kids couldnít travel as much during the school year, we had to do two different casts,î Bystrom said.

The directors are also working on another ìMusicalî camp that will perform ìHansel and Gretel,î written by Vera Morris with music and lyrics by Bill Francouer.

ìHansel and Gretelî will be performed at a 10 a.m. showing on Friday, July 28.

Following the performance, ìTrouble Spotsî will debut at 12:30 p.m.

In between the two early performances Masquers will serve refreshments.

Since ìTrouble Spotsî was double cast, a second performance will occur at 5:30 p.m.

Following that performance, Masquerís theatre production of ìBye Bye Birdieî will open at 7 p.m.

All performances will be held at the Forest Lake High School Auditorium.

All community education shows are free.

Masquers Theatre ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 60 and up), and $8 for children (12 and under).

However, participants who see the community education shows can receive $2 off their ticket for the evening show of ìBye Bye Birdie.î

Tickets will be sold all day Friday and the offer is only good for the Friday night showing.

For more questions regarding the Community Education productions contact Kathy Bystrom at 982-8391.

For more information regarding Masquerís production of ìBye Bye Birdie,î contact the theatre at 651-464-5823 or visit their web site at www.masquerstheatre.com.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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