by Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff - mskubal@rhinelanderdailynews.com

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Any talk about the Nicolet Players and their production of Sam Shepard's “True West” has to start with the theater itself.

The Nicolet Theatre, an intimate 250 seat theater on the ground floor of the Learning Resources Center of Nicolet College, has been the home of the Nicolet Players since 1971.

First designed as a lecture hall, the 250 seats surround the stage in a one 150 degree arc. The furthest seat from the stage is only 40 feet. It has been updated with a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, including a wireless assisted hearing system available for guests who are hearing impaired.

Yearly, 6,000-7,000 people attend events at the theater, resulting in an 85 percent fill rate. 53 percent of the audiences come from the Rhinelander area, with 47 percent from beyond. Typically, 13 percent of the audience are Nicolet students, 24 percent senior citizens, 6 percent high school students and 57 percent the remaining public.

Since the building of the Lake Julia Campus, the Nicolet Players have mounted over 160 titles. The Nicolet Players is a community theater group under the directorship of Jim Nuttall, Nicolet's Speech and Theater instructor.

According to the mission statement, the Nicolet Players “provides a non-profit educational community theater and helps to fulfill the mission of Nicolet College: In service to the people of Northern Wisconsin, we deliver superior community college education that transforms lives and enriches communities. Our goals are to provide the highest quality productions possible, to educate, and to have fun.”

You do not have to enroll in any theater classes to be in a play at Nicolet. Auditions are held 5-7 weeks before the play opens, and all rehearsals are held in the evenings. Rehearsals are held four to five nights a week for two to three hours. Audition notices are printed in the local papers, but the best way to keep informed of upcoming events is to get on the mailing list by calling the Box Office at 715-365-4646.

Acting is not the only part of play production. For every person on stage there are two people working backstage building scenery, painting, designing costumes, recording sound effects, operating the computerized lighting equipment and ushering.

This brings us to the upcoming production. Nicolet Players will present “True West” by Sam Shepard, one of America's most talented playwrights. It's a dark and crazy comedy that pits brother against brother. “Every couple of years I like to throw in something offbeat,” said Nuttall. “I try for balance. We are both a community and college theater and sometimes I throw in something for the college.”

A press release from Director Jim Nuttall talks about the production, “Set in the 1970s, the play tells the tale of Austin, an ambitious and successful screenwriter who retreats to work on a multi-million dollar Hollywood play as he house sits for his mother. An ill wind blows across the California desert and with it rides brother Lee, an alcoholic vagabond thief looking for refuge in their mother's house.”

Nuttall went on, “As the two brothers accidentally converge, they battle it out in what leads to one of the most comic and riveting role-reversals in modern theater. Austin realizes there is little he can do to change his brother's ways and requests that he leave before the Hollywood producer arrives at the house. Loser Lee stays and ends up pitching his own western movie idea to the producer, leading to the gradual role reversal of the two brothers and their comic battle.”

“Sam Shepard is fantastic,” said Nuttall. “He is a fascinating combination of hyper-realism and over the top comedy. It's a dark comedy that starts out with a touch of menace, then gets wilder and funnier as the confrontation between the two brothers explodes.”

“It's a violent play but we turn it into laughable violence,” said Nuttall. “There's some harsh language but no more than cable television. And there's fighting. The first act is tough and menacing with short bursts of humor. The second act cuts loose and swings over to madcap adventure. By the end of the play the set is trashed. I've had to buy 30 toasters, 5 telephones and two kitchen chairs. We play golf with beer cans. It's fun to watch the destruction. We want half and half. We want the audience to both pull back and let loose.”

Dan Brekke of Rhinelander and Charles Lynch of Crandon play the brothers. “I haven't had to do much as a director, they're running with the parts,” said Nuttall. “The audience will say that was some amazing acting. It's a pleasure to watch these guys work. It's worth going to see “True West” just to see two of the Northwoods' premier actors. They take risks. They've found the depth of their characters. I got so involved that I forgot to take notes last night.”

Other cast members from Rhinelander are Peggy Kasson as the mother and Alan Higgins as producer Saul Kimmer. “The work that the two leads are doing gives the supporting actors a chance to realize their characters in greater detail. The willingness of Brekke and Lynch to take risks elevates everything.”

Tickets are $7 for the general public, $5 for students and senior citizens, and can be ordered online at www.nicoletlive.com or by calling the Box Office at 715-365-4646 or 1-800-544-3039, extension 4646. It is recommended that children under 12 do not attend. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3; Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 8-10; and 2 p.m. Sundays, November 4 and 11.

All performances will be in the Nicolet College Theatre, located in the Learning Resources Center on the Rhinelander campus, one mile south of the city just off Highway G.

If you are interested in theater in any capacity, stop in and see Jim Nuttall, the Director of Theater. His office is on the first floor of the LRC (across from the cafeteria) and his phone number is 715-365-4476. He'd be glad to sit down and explain the Nicolet Players in much greater detail. Whether you want to star in a play, or just see one of the performances, it's a lot of fun.

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Michelle Fenske wrote on Oct 29, 2007 10:02 PM: " We are so lucky to have Jim Nuttall at our college working his magic!!! Jim brings out the best in all the actors. What an outstanding Director we have in our NorthWoods community!!!! " The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.

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