Just as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus asserted that no man ever steps in the same river twice — “for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man” — perhaps no actor ever plays the same role twice.
Or, as Kenyon native Tom Ersland put it, “You could do the same show a dozen times; you always have a different cast.”
Ersland is set to play Cornelius Hackl in Kenyon-Wanamingo Community Education’s upcoming production of “Hello, Dolly,” returning to a part he played 20 years ago in Zumbrota. The script and dialogue are the same, but the latest show has still been a fresh experience.
He’s not the only member of the cast who’s reprising a role.
With the new show, LeAnn Finger, of Faribault, is pulling off back-to-back turns as Dolly. In April, she played the lead in “The Matchmaker” — the play upon which “Hello, Dolly” is based — for the Northfield Arts Guild. K-W director Randy Hockinson saw that show and invited her to audition for “Hello, Dolly.”
While the two plays tell the same basic story, “The Matchmaker” is a drama, whereas “Hello, Dolly” is a musical.
“It’s different. They’re very different productions. Dolly is a little different in this one, so that’s been fun to figure out the nuances. She’s still a good soul, just meddling,” said Finger. “She wants everyone to be happy, not just herself.”
Finger acted regularly in her youth, but returned to the stage in recent years after a long hiatus. Now that her kids are raised, she said it’s time to do something for herself.
The biggest challenge that’s come with her starring role is the amount of time she’s required to spend on stage. Finger said she’s even taken up aerobics to build up her stamina.
Despite the hard work, returning to theater has been a joyous experience for her.
“I don’t think I knew how much I missed it until I got back into it, just the camaraderie, the feeling of being part of a cast. You really learn to trust each other and get a lot of new connections,” said Finger.
In the play, Dolly attempts to make a match between wealthy businessman Horace Vandergelder and widowed hat shop owner Irene Molloy, both played by actors who are also recent returnees to theater.
Vandergelder is played by Blair Reynolds, who has directed a show a year for K-W but never acted there before. He recently reconnected with his college friend Gretchen Ginter, of Minneapolis, who took the part of Molloy.
Ginter said she hasn’t had a voice lesson in 25 years, but she’s thrilled to be back on stage. While other actors reported choreography as one of the key challenges in the show, Ginter studied dance when she was younger and has found the old steps coming back to her quite naturally.
Playing Molloy is also squarely in her wheelhouse.
“She’s really strong-willed, knows what she wants, knows what she deserves and that’s totally me,” said Ginter.
Reynolds directed the last summer production, but wanted a break from those duties this year. Now, he’s sharing the stage with students he’s directed before.
“It’s cool to be in the show with kids I either direct or kids I have directed, and to be their peer instead of their director. I think it builds a really good relationship,” said Reynolds.
In another role reversal, Superintendent Beth Giese has also joined the cast, acting alongside students.
Although he’s not directing, Reynolds has been a part of this production from the beginning, discussing the selection of the show with Hockinson and Community Education Director Amy Belcher. Hockinson said they landed on “Hello, Dolly” because they wanted to stage a show the audience already knows and loves. With Hockinson in the director’s chair, Reynolds agreed to play Vandergelder, a part he considers a “dream role.”
“It’s one of the great male musical theater parts ever written. It’s a fun part,” said Reynolds, citing the character’s blend of good and bad qualities as an enticing opportunity.
Ersland, however, feels that he’s the lucky one in playing Hackl, who Vandergelder recently promoted from “impertinent fool to chief clerk.”
“The Vandergelder part is a good part, it is. It’s a good part. But for me, Cornelius Hackl is a much more desirable part to play. It’s a little more my character, I think,” he said.
Ersland has long found supporting roles to be more fulfilling as an actor. He considers Hackl “a basic loser,” but an interesting character.
Before Kenyon and Wanamingo merged school districts, he acted at Kenyon High School. He described the K-W theater as “a nice upgrade.”
Behind-the-scenes, Hockinson is working with stage manager Ashley Rechtzigel, a K-W alum who graduated last year. Rechtzigel began acting in her sophomore year, and was eager to come back.
“It’s like coming home. I love being here,” she said.
Hockinson said she’s been instrumental in keeping the show on track, noting the entire cast and crew has matched her work ethic.
“This is the hardest working company that we’ve had. They’re very devoted to getting this thing done,” he said.
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