The old and the new

We are very fortunate to have The Paul Bunyan Playhouse in Bemidji so close to us, however, Walker Bay Theater is closer — and just as good!

The theater is managed by Dave Holk, whose resume includes being a performer, director, artistic staff, voiceover, comedian, casting director, producer, choreographer, scenic set director, marketing and stage manager! Dave has been around the art and culture of drama in many, many ways, and for a long, long time!

In 1984, I had the privilege of working with Dave in Walker Bay Theater’s production of “The Old Couple Northwoods Women.” We played the parts of two Norwegian brothers and had a ball! Whenever I had trouble with my lines — and that happened quite often — Dave carried a Norwegian Dictionary and pretended he was looking up a translation of a Norwegian word into English, when actually he was helping me remember my lines!

In those days, there was an organization in Walker called, “The Birchwood Players,” and during the summer months we put on a dinner show every Sunday evening in the lower level of the Goalpost, which is now known as Benson’s. The lower level seated a hundred people and was full every Sunday evening during the summer months. If you had a reservation and $20 you were seated at a table, served a glass of champagne, a chicken kiev dinner, and the privilege of watching the show after dinner. The Birchwood Players received half of the $20 and the Goalpost received the other half!

The $1,000 each received was satisfactory for the Birchwood Players, but not very profitable for the Goalpost when one considers the overhead of operation, cost of food and salaries.

However, the social hour helped defray those expenses, and having white tablecloths and napkins, flowers, and candlelight was a wonderful diversion from the hard rock and roll, live music that occurred on the dance floor upstairs every other day of the week!

Jami Nelson was in charge of the Goalpost Sunday Dinner Theater, and one Sunday, when my peonies in my garden were in bloom, I picked enough for each table, only to discover ants crawling all over the beautifully set tables! Just before dinner, Jamie’s crew had to re-set every table, and with fire in her eyes, Jamie threatened me very emphatically, “Ringle, you stick to fixing teeth and let me take care of dinner theater!” Perhaps one of our most enjoyable productions of the Goalpost Sunday Dinner Theater was the production of, “Twelve Angry Men”. Members of the Walker Rotary Club played the parts of the twelve jury members, District Judge Micheal J. Haas, played the judge in the play, the Birchwood Players took care of staging and selling tickets, and the staff of the staff of the Goalpost Sunday Dinner Theater did their part for a wonderful and unforgettable evening!

The Birchwood Players put on another show at the Goalpost Sunday Dinner Theater called, “Caught in the Villain’s Web.” Rob Fallon from Laporte made a perfect villain and the show was so popular it was brought back the next year and now 40 years later it was brought back again in Dave Holk’s Walker Bay Theater!

Forty years ago Lori Gamache played the part of Nella Hargrave, and I was honored to play the part of Brockton the Butler. The other night, as I sat in the audience, the picture above of Rob threatening me with his sword brought back an unforgettable experience!

Since Lori is 40 years older in the play, she played the part of the “pretend-to-be-sick-little-old-lady” Regina Larkfield. And, she also directed the play! After the play, in the appreciation line-up, I gave Lori a big hug and said, “You are like a fine wine!” To which Lori replied, “I know — I’m getting old!”

Walker is extremely fortunate to have Dave Holk’s Walker Bay Theater in our little town! Although “Caught in the Villian’s Web” will be over when you read this, you can still take in such productions as “Steel Magnolias” Aug. 8-18 and “Love Letters” Aug. 30-Sept. 8. After each production, Dave and Lori will be in the appreciation line-ups. Shake Dave’s hand and thank him for continuing to bring art, culture and drama into our little town, and tell Lori — more and more she is getting to be like a fine wine!

The views and opinions expressed in the “The old and the new” column belong solely to the author, and not The Pilot-Independent or an organization, committee or individual.