University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

Through April 8: ‘Leading Ladies’ plays at Fire Hall Theatre

Men in heels.

Cross dressing has been a staple of the theatre since the ancient Greeks threw a dress on an actor and called him Medea. Of course, in those days women weren’t allowed on stage, nor was Juliet played by a woman during Shakespeare’s time.  Despite the cross dressing that occurred for more than 1,600 years — contemporary audiences find men in dresses hilarious.  Remember when Bugs Bunny did it?  And Daffy Duck?  Some readers might remember Milton Berle showing off his “gams” while chomping on a cigar. For some reason, the schtick never gets old; ask Tom Hanks whose role in Bosom Buddies catapulted his career.

Well, the laughter will continue at the Fire Hall Theatre March 23 – April 8. The Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre has “dolled up” a couple of its leading men in Ken Ludwig’s comedy, Leading Ladies, playing at the Fire Hall Theatre Thursdays – Saturdays (7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.).

Brad Werner (North Dakota Museum of Art accountant by day) and newcomer Max Anadon will go “the whole nine yards” — dress, stockings, heels, wigs, and painfully high voices —  to play two con men masquerading as women.  Directors Jeff and Cary McMahon cast the men, then broke the news that they might need to wax their chests.

There are also women playing women in this show, as well as men playing men.  A face familiar to Fire hall audiences is Deborah Todhunter (seen last season in Arsenic and Old Lace) as the wealthy woman seeking her long lost nieces to leave her millions to, and then there’s Tina Wilkening as one of the women who ends up with a girl-crush on the female character played by a man (Brad Werner).

Still following?

The devious minister is played by Greg Jones (sous chef at the NDMoA) . Hailee Awes, new to the Fire Hall stage, plays the ingenue role with such freshness and charm it’s no wonder one of the men playing a woman is smitten. Of course, this throws a wrench into the con men’s plans, but that’s why it’s called a farce. When she forces her fiance, “Butch,” (played by David Kary) to act in a local play with the con men, more gender issues arise. Do “manly men” engage in the arts?

Gender politics aside, Leading Ladies was chosen for the laughs, and laughs it will deliver. Be sure to wear your waterproof mascara, girls — and boys.

*Stage Manager: Brooke Pesch

Tickets:  $15 and $12 for seniors, students, military and Canadian visitors with I.D. Men and women who arrive in full drag will get in for $12, as well. (No additional discounts apply). Groups of 12 or more $10 each.

Please call 701.777.4090 for reservations.

— Kathy Coudle-King, English and Fire Hall Theatre.