Mitchell Area Community Theatre celebrates the autumn season with the heartwarming tale of “Sarah Plain and Tall”. This story originated from the text written by Patricia MacLachlan, relates the emotions and humanity of children without a parent, adults without companionship as well as the wish to be needed and appreciated. This story has been adapted not only for the stage but for the screen as well. It is a timeless tale of the severity of the earth, not only the prairies of Kansas and the Midwest, but the coast as well. Jamison Gross, as Caleb Witting, and Sarah Moore, as Anna Witting, proves to be talented actors in their own right. Their portrayal in this performance is honest and has an innocence that is refreshing. They work well with each other on stage, showing the fragility of childhood and yet the strength in coping with situations. Added to these two, were the neighbor Nordstrom children, played by Emilie and Abi Mika. They too were a breath of fresh air in their fun loving and buoyant attitudes on the prairie. Jesse Clark takes on the role of Jacob Witting, the quiet widower who farms the terrain of Kansas. It is obvious that he is a shy character yet set in his adult ways as a man of the land. Mikayla Davis, a student currently at DWU, lends to the “tall” of Sarah, but do not be mistaken: she is not plain in her role. While it would have been prudent to have Sarah contain more depth as an individual, Davis does a nice job of connecting with the children, setting up as a stranger to the prairie and to the farm. Davis shows conviction in her character as Sarah has particular ways of conducting herself. Sarah is not only a lady but has been raised within a fisherman’s family whereby she knows how to fish, mend nets and do “man’s work”, as well. There is a comfortable aura about Davis in her portrayal that can go into greater detail with her humanity. Renditions of “Billy Boy” allow us to see that Davis’ character is not the perfect specimen of womankind, but rather as average as the next, but nurturing in her mannerisms. AJ Bierman and Julie Gross play the proverbial brother and sister-in-law, who wish to see Sarah married but also miss her greatly while she is far across the country. Bierman’s portrayal was convincing as the affectionate yet firm brother while Gross played the cute and quaint spouse to Bierman’s character. The set consisted of different venues for the different vignettes or scenes of the production, such as the barn, Sarah’s house in Maine, and the Witting home. These areas work to frame the idea of the scenic locale. Looking at the costuming plots for the production, the styles match closely to the time period needed. Bierman’s suit is slightly confusing in regards to the fact that he is an eastern coast fisherman, where he would have been “mending nets” in dungarees, slicks and wellies rather than a formal suit. Overall, this production of Sarah Plain and Tall provides great entertainment for the community. It showcases much of our younger talent as well as newcomers to the Mitchell Area Community Theatre. The director states in her notes that this is “not a tale of wild action or frightful events. It emphasizes the humanity of characters who yearn to be loved....” While this production does not seem to confront gargantuan issues, do not be fooled. It is not just a simple tale. This is a time period where a move across the country from family and acquaintances as well as leaving the comforts that are known to one, causes greater strife and discomfort than we realize in this day and age. This is a story of strength, courage and a willingness to accept others for what they are and for their individual differences. The characters of this script must contain great depth and humanity. This is an educational show for the entire family and enjoyable to watch.
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