HARRISON – Have you ever met a contractor who didn’t know the difference between an outhouse and a doghouse? That’s what three corporate scoundrels think they’ll find when they descend on a small town in Maine to bamboozle the local Planning Board and put a local retailer out of business.
“Reny’s, the Musical” opens Wednesday at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison, kicking off the 2006 summer season.
The show, written by Art Mayers, a Maine journalist, takes a humorous approach to the growth of big box discount stores and the struggle of small retailers like Reny’s to survive.
The play is being produced by Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Center. It is the theatre’s first in-house production in 10 years.
Executive Director Lee Bearse said, “The timing was right. We’ve built up the reputation of the theatre over the last six years. People know if its Deertrees, it will be a quality show. We had a director who would do a top notch job. We have replaced the curtains and brought the lighting up to date. The play was ideal because it had a Maine theme.”
Director Bill Felts is a veteran actor and director from New York who studied at the renowned Actor’s Studio. He is also media director at Deertrees.
The show features a cast of many well-known locals, including Rick Albert of Harrison as Harry Wallmutt, Carol Arnaya of North Bridgton as Susan, and Tom Ferente of Naples as Mall Man and Mr. Poop.
The musical director, Tim McLaughlin, is a music educator who is currently the music chairman at Gould Academy. “All the musical arrangements are Tim’s, and it takes an exceptional person to be able to do that,” Bearse said.
The musical numbers will be accompanied by flute, piano, bass guitar and drums.
The set designer, Steven Oliver, is an architect who is new to the area. Nelle Ellie, a local muralist, was in charge of scenery and costumes.
Deertrees opened in 1936 as an opera house. Built in the “Maine Camp Style” by local craftsmen, the building was designed by Harrison Wiseman of New York and has perfect acoustics.
Although the theatre has changed hands many times in the past eight decades, concerned residents bought the property in the 1990s and established the theater as a nonprofit performing arts center. Lee Bearse has been executive director and C. Randolph Parker has been house manager since 1999. Restoration is ongoing.
The summer lineup includes the professional Theatre Festival, the Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival, Wednesday concerts for children, student acting workshops and the Backstage Art Gallery.
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