BELLEVUE, Sask. – Disheartened by a dismal agricultural economy, a farm family from St. Louis, Sask., is turning to Jesus for salvation, not in the form of prayer but as a source of off-farm income.
For six years Louise Branger toyed with the idea of putting on a passion play in her northern Saskatchewan community, but farming and fear of failure overpowered her ambition to bring the story of Christ to the stage.
“The drought made us decide to do this,” said Louise, who has been dabbling in theatre for the past 15 years. It forced Branger’s husband, Maurice, to sell off the 40 head of cattle that were tying them to their land.
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That cleared the way for the couple to open Mission Hill Productions, an outdoor theatre company located one kilometre east of Bellevue. The passion play is just one phase of a venture the Brangers hope will become a multi-pronged source of revenue.
They have grandiose ideas for their 85-acre plot of land, including operating a water park in the summer and a ski hill in the winter. But one month away from the grand opening of their play, the Brangers realize they are getting ahead of themselves with that kind of talk.
There is a task at hand. And it is a big one.
It’s June 10 and there is no stage for the 32 actors who will be participating in the passion play set to run July 10Ð20.
Louise has been working with small groups of actors in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, but she has yet to conduct a full rehearsal on site with all the cast members.
Instead, the couple has been spending 12-hour days finishing the log chalet at the base of the magnificent and rare hill near Bellevue. It will become their office as well as a kitchen and dining room for theatre goers.
Work on the site began in March and the Brangers have been going flat out since then.
“We’re starting to miss farming. At least you get a break after seeding,” said Maurice with a laugh.
Two years ago he rented out a portion of the land he has been farming five kilometres west of St. Louis since 1975. Maurice was born with a physical disability and found his artificial leg had become a hindrance on the farm.
Getting rid of the cattle was a tough decision made easier by two years of drought and his disability. Renting out the remainder of their 500 acres of cropland wasn’t so gut-wrenching. Neither of them miss grain farming.
Since April 2002, the theatre has been their sole focus. That’s when Louise started inquiring about a parcel of land owned by the Rural Municipality of St. Louis.
It’s a site that used to be home to the Minitina ski hill, which shut down nearly 20 years ago. Poles that once formed the backbone of a t-bar lift dot the hillside behind Mission Hill’s new log office, which is built on the foundation of the old ski lodge.
Three large areas have been cleared outside the front door of the chalet, one for parking, one for a stage and one for seating.
Maurice will construct a rotating circular stage, nine metres in diameter, at the base of the hill, a stone’s throw from the office building. A divider will allow cast and crew to prepare one set in secrecy while another is exposed to the audience.
Props such as a small pool for St. John the Baptist, and crosses for the crucifixion scene will be scattered around the hill, which provides the backdrop for the passion play. A few sheep will be tethered on it to resemble a small flock.
That’s what the plan is. But aside from three potholes where buildings representing a town are going to be erected, nothing has happened. Only grass and trees are on the hill. There is work to be done before opening night.
For weeks now the Brangers have been going full tilt from dawn until dusk. The only respite they get is attending the occasional ball game of one of their four teenage children.
Home provides no refuge because the phone is constantly ringing with inquiries ranging from costumes to tickets.
Louise has sold 800 seats since March. She is hoping for a sellout of 600 people for each night during the 11-day run, but would be satisfied with anything over the breakeven of 200 tickets per performance.
How they fare in their inaugural year will dictate the size and scope of future events.
The Brangers have $150,000 invested in Mission Hill Productions. The money came through a combination of the couple’s savings and a loan from Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. Louise went to the nonprofit agency after being turned down by traditional lending institutions.
She plans to make the passion play an annual show. Other events at the theatre should attract a younger crowd.
“I don’t want it to be a religious place. I want it to be a place where we can have rock concerts,” said Louise.
She has booked the bands Prism and Liverpool to celebrate the July 4 grand opening of the theatre. Louise hopes the rock show will attract somewhere between 750 and 1,000 people, who will enjoy the bands and the beer garden.
She also wants to write, direct and act in more plays down the road, ones with local themes such as the battle of Batoche. Other plans for the new facility include winter game shows and a lobster feast in February.
But for now she is immersed in the passion play.
When asked when all the construction projects will be finished, Maurice answers, “July 4.”
That elicits a wide-eyed stare from his wife.
“No way. I would be going nuts,” said Louise.
She wants everything done by the last week in June so they can turn their attention to landscaping.
Then the only other thing to worry about will be the weather. The show is going on come rain or shine. If the last two years are any indication, there is a good chance it will be shine.
“Rain? What is that?” said Louise, in true dramatic fashion.
