Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Trine Fest!


 Macy Bonifield, Ben Hercules and me at Trine Fest!

Trine Fest came and went with the streets full of students and community members. The day was beautiful except for a brief downpour of rain. No one even knew that was expected. Most of us just stayed, got wet, and wiped things down. The mechanical bull had a bit of cleaning up to do to make it safe, but even were soon back up running.

To make the day more festive, I purchased a bubble machine and had a great time using it on Saturday. (Everyone should have a bubble machine!) I manned the theatre table as students popped by one at a time or in droves. Macy and Ben hung out the whole time of which I was very grateful. It certainly was fun chatting with them. I had photos of our Robin Hood show, and several elementary students came up to us and said, “I went to that show!” They also looked at Macy like she was a rock star. She is a rock star to those kids. I was so glad to hear their comments. We loved doing our show for them.

We were not the only event, of course. There were tables and vendors in every quadrant. There was a climbing wall, an ax throwing trailer, and I heard there was bungy jumping, although I never saw that one! Food trucks had long lines as did our local restaurants and a feature film at our beautiful Brokaw. What could be better? A perfect Saturday afternoon down on the square visiting with all who came by our table.

Not only did we talk about past shows (and we love doing that), but we also promoted and gave the green light in letting the cat out of the bag to announce our fall show. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we do not stand still for long! Our next (drum roll, please) will be another Agatha Christie play, “Murder on the Orient Express.” As you probably know by now, there definitely is a pattern to my shows! I always love something a bit spooky for the fall show. Last year it was Christie’s, “Mousetrap.”

This show is the second favorite show for Christie with “And then there were None,” as her top show. There is a bit of controversary as to where this one was written. Some say it was on an archaeological dig in Iraq with her second husband, Max Mallowan. Others say it was written in Istanbul. There is even a hotel, Per Palace Hotel, where they keep a room reserved in her name and her memory. This play was first published in six installments in the Saturday Evening Post under the name, “Murder on the Calais Coach.” I can only imagine how exciting it must have been to get the new copy of the Saturday Evening Post every week with the next chapter! This is so Dickens!! One more bit of trivia, some say she was inspired by the kidnapping of the son of Charles Lindbergh in 1932. The child was 20 months old. The ransom was paid, but the child was never found. Did Christie use that information for her novel? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to ask her? Alas, alas.

With 500 save the date cards printed, Macy spent the afternoon luring students and the community to our show. Every half hour she came back for more cards! Of course, the auditions are next week, but it is never too early to get folks interested. There will be lots more later as we get going on the show!

I think those of you attending Trine Fest on that beautiful fall-like day will say the same thing. Our students are kind and respectful. Lots of them were working on the event: setting up tables, clearing trash, helping vendors set up. They roamed around and helped as if we needed them, and we did.

Everything was a bit soggy when I packed up. I had a few cards left, but not many. I tucked all the stories I heard under my belt saving them for a rainy day, I guess. Maybe a day when I need to hear sweet stories from the community.

This is my fourth year to run the theatre. Sarah Franzen left a couple of years ago, but it was just yesterday I was sitting in her office. “Put on a good show, Lou Ann, and let the students have fun.”

I have done both of those things. We all love it.

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