Getting melodramatic

While some actors may go to bigger cities to find their stardom, Spencer Hari says he believes that a smaller town can make better performers.

The local actor landed the lead role in a melodrama called Moose Meat Cook-Off. The play is being performed at Chippewa Park through July and August.

Although Hari has performed locally for over a decade, he said it’s his first time taking the stage in a melodramatic role.
He said unlike Toronto, Thunder Bay forces actors to use their wits and be more creative in order to put on a show.

That forces actors to hone their skills and improve, he said.

“The theatre community in town is small but it really is a family and we all support each other,” he said.

The Moose Meat Cook-Off tells the story about the town of Chippewa and the local cook off. The event requires a little extra protection so the new RCMP officer, played by Hari, tries to step up and thwart the show’s villain.

Hari said he does the stereotypical Mountie with the stiff movements and puff up chest similar to the classic Dudley Do Right. He’s also French Canadian so Hari adopted an accent to go along with his portrayal. He described his character as being naïve with a good heart.

“With melodrama we’re overacting so we want it to be recognizable to anyone and it is a little over the top,” he said. “I don’t really use my arms when I walk so it’s a tin soldier kind of thing. It’s fun to do.”

He said he listen to audio recordings of former prime minister Jean Chrétien to get the right sound.

“I didn’t want France’s refined French,” he said. “I wanted good old Canadian French.”

Director Lawrence Badanai said the whole play took about two months to put together. Local writer T.T. Lucky compiles the script and soon after the cast is assembled to rehearse.

Badanai said Chippewa has a history of performing melodramas and they wanted to continue that tradition.

“In 1971, Moonlight Melodramas started up in Thunder Bay and that’s where we kind of give a tip off to that theatre company,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them, Thunder Bay audiences wouldn’t have as much fun in the summer by booing the villains and throwing paper at them. That all started here at Chippewa Park.”

For more information on showtimes visit the Capital Players' website.