How crazy would a man have to be to settle with his wife, baby and two daughters under the age of 11 in Indian Territory with only their old dog Jack and a rifle for protection?

In the Coterie Theatre's new production of Little House on the Prairie, big questions are asked.  Is it right for the white settlers to claim Indian land?  What are the Indian's rights in a new America where white men make the laws?  What is it to be civilized?  How do we learn to get along?  

Director, Rick Averill and his real wife Jeanne step into the roles of Pa and Ma Ingalls and into the past. Averill has been a writer, producer, composer and actor for numerous children's' productions.  He has a talent for making great theater out of very little and as the artistic director of the Seems to be Players in Lawrence; he has delighted generations of eastern Kansans.  In this production, Averill brings his down home, bluegrass brand of heartwarming Americana to Pamela Sterling's adaptation of the novel.  Complete with fiddles and an acoustic guitar strolling through the audience the production has a flap-jack wholesomeness that belies it's more serious undertones.

Kids get to nestle right up to the low stage at the Coterie.  There is an immediacy to their experience as they feel the stage shake during dancing and watch the workings of the spinning disk imbedded in the stage that the singing dog, Jack, played enthusiastically by Martin Buchanan, moves with a subtle slight of "paw".  The disk moves the covered wagon 360 degrees offering the audience different perspectives of the action, from the front seats to the back of the family "van".
  
Mary and Laura are just like any other kids in history, they get tired, they whine.  Yet they understand their role in the survival of the family.  In one of the many poignant parts, the girls are thrilled with nothing more than a tin cup, a few sweets and a penny in their Christmas stocking. Glancing at the small faces surrounding the stage, there was more than one expression of shock from the young audience.  The roles are double cast and Saturday's matinee presented Chloe Wells as the spirited Laura and Katie Hall as the mild Mary.  They were the perfect sweet-faced sisters.

Alex Haynes and Keenan Ramos with their shaved heads, authentic costumes and passionate intensity were 100% convincing as Osage Indians.  Speaking French, Ramos' character could not have appeared more other-worldly to the simple Ingalls daughters.  Also playing the African-American doctor who saves the family from a bout of malaria, Ramos demonstrated his range and actability.

Ma and Pa Ingalls were young and idealistic settlers in their 20's when they set off in search of their place in the world.  In terms of casting, the young couple; Mr. and Mrs. Scott played by Nicholas Gehlfuss and Rachel Hirshorn might have instilled that wide-eyed optimism of a new family better than the seasoned veterans for this production.

Yet, Jeanne Averill does have the quiet strength that strives to civilize her daughters while cultivating the land.  Her speech about not liking Indians because they are savage and then symbolizing her civility with a china figurine, brought the cultural differences between Indians and settlers into dramatic relief.

Education is one of the Coterie Theatres strongest suits.  This production was no exception.  If you are a teacher I strongly encourage you to check out their website for well-designed and developed lesson plans with support material for this performance.  Anyone is able to access this information online.  Kudos to Megahnn Henry and Nancy Marcy for their extension materials. 

In this challenging season of rampant consumerism in an economic depression, a trip to the Coterie can offer children a historical perspective of what life was like, here in the Midwest, just over 100 years ago.  The importance of family and friends to survival should not be overlooked even today as we give thanks for all of our small blessings.

REVIEW:
Coterie Theatre
The Little House on the Prairie
Runs November 3 - December 29, 2009 (Reviewed November 21)
The Coterie Theatre,
Crown Center, Kansas City, MO
www.coterietheatre.org

Top photo: Laura (Chloe Wells, left) meets up for the first time with Soldat du Chene (Keenan Ramos) while Ma (Jeanne Averill) holds her back in the Coterie's Little House on the Prairie.

By Megan Browne Helm

Classical, Vocal and Theatre Contributor

Megan Browne Helm grew up singing, dancing and acting.  Inspired by Emma Kirkby as a high school student in St. Louis she went on to study voice and sing with the Collegium Musicum at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio where she also had a radio show of contemporary classical music on WOBC.  At the University of Kansas she had the pleasure of working with former Kings’ Singer, Simon Carrington in his Collegium Musicum and Oread consort. Years later, she was a choral fellow at the Yale School of Music’s  Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.  She is currently singing with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus under the direction of Charles Bruffy. 

 As a freelance music and culture writer her work can be found on KCMetropolis.org, presentmagazine.com, the Lawrence Journal World, Shawnee Magazine, Leawood Lifestyle Magazine and KC Parent.  She was one of 26 journalists in the country chosen as a NEA Institute Fellow for Classical Music and Opera at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. 

Her current interest is how classical music remains relevant through active collaborations with artists in different fields, including science.  She also sees a connection between classical music, travel and food as a way to engage all of the senses in a 360 degree cultural experience.  She blogs at raworganum.wordpress.com.

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