Colin Meloy’s “Wildwood” makes world premiere at Grandstreet Theatre
By Marga Lincoln
for the Independent Record, June 6,
Reprinted with permission
So, what do you do when your baby brother is kidnapped by crows?
Well, if you’re Prue McKeel, you leap into action and go right after them.
Even if it means entering the dreaded Impassable Wilderness.
Thus, unfolds the high adventure tale of “Wildwood.”
The best-selling novel, written by Helena native son Colin Meloy, made its world premiere in an adaptation by Jennifer Schlueter June 6-16 at Grandstreet Theatre in Helena.
Not only is “Wildwood” full of “woods magic,” but the very fact it’s appearing on Grandstreet’s stage is quite the fantastic tale.
Indie rock star Meloy of The Decemberists is a former Grandstreet kid, and thus Grandstreet miraculously got first dibs on staging a production. It appears courtesy of Laika Pictures, which has optioned the novel for the screen.
But back to the baby-saving heroics.
Just as Prue (Cadence Hatten) is plunging into Wildwood, classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Kai Moser) follows hot on her heels, admonishing her about assorted rules she’s breaking and homework that’s due. But both abandon all caution to save Baby Mac.
They will confront the murder of crows that just stole Mac, but also meet a troop of sarcastic, saber-wielding coyotes in uniform, squirrels in three-piece suits, Wise Owl Regina, a Dowager Governess, a bevy of blundering bureaucrats and a band of bandits.
They’ll also learn who they really are and what they’re capable of.
This is a mere glimpse of the fun oddities in this swash-buckling and witty adventure.
“It’s very whimsical, playful and fun,” says guest director Sarah Butts. “It’s funny and has moments of great heart.”
There’s plenty of mystery and menace as well.
“There are elements of danger,” adds education director Marianne Adams, the show’s producer. “It takes place today in a magical world of Wildwood, which is its own magical universe.”
This is a world where kids – nerdy, book-loving kids – take charge.
“We get to see kids taking on big challenges and big problems and acting in really courageous ways,” says Butts. “It resonates with the current times. ... We’re seeing kids do just that – taking on these huge causes ... and organizing.”
In the play, Prue is one of those heroes.
“Prue has a really huge goal of finding her brother,” says Hatten of her character.
The CR Anderson eighth grader says one of her biggest challenges in this adventure is just keeping a straight face. “There’s a lot of funny parts in the show and keeping a straight face is a little difficult.”
She likes that the two main characters are very confident kids who aren’t afraid to tell grown-ups who’s boss, and they have to make a lot of big decisions.
“The writing of the play is really cool because it’s not everyday language,” Hatten says. “There’s a lot of large words young kids say.”
She also likes the fantasy elements using imagination. “There are funny bird-like objects. There are a lot of animals, but they’re sort of half-human.”
Moser, a Helena Middle School seventh grader, loves both the story adventure and the stage magic.
“The stage is really neat and it’s going to be super cool,” he says.
His character, Curtis, is seen by others as annoying and snoopy, but is actually just curious.
“He wants to be friends with people but doesn’t know how to do it,” Moser said.
Moser is particularly excited that Colin Meloy was once a Grandstreet kid just like them and that he gave Grandstreet exclusive permission to do the play.
The whole show is an invitation to both kids and adults to use their imaginations both on stage and in the audience. And if you use yours, you just might see an 11-year-old Colin Meloy, who as a child loved to don a cape and play super heroes, flashing his saber and charging across the stage.
And a few in the audience might spot him one night (in his adult form) actually sitting in the audience to watch.
“It’s a great adventure to start your summer,” says Adams. “Who doesn’t dream of going into the woods and ... finding a magical place?”
Prue (Cadence Hatten) is about to lose Baby Mac (Gracie Fay Petersen) to the Wildwood, and embark on an epic journey to retrieve him. (Photo by Thom Bridge/Independent Record)
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