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Event
Robbers, Rascals & Ruffians Tales of Watertown's Dark Side
The show was specially written for the Watertown Players by local historian and playwright William F. Jannke. It is loosely based on his popular book, "Wicked Watertown." It tells the stories of some of the more notorious law-breakers of the 1800s, including the story of the Kodesch matricide case, and the tale of Watertown's biggest brothel-keeper, Mary Gruetzmacher.
The show is presented as a series of vignettes, all told by a group of Watertown citizens and acted out in pantomime. Interspersed between the scenes will be music of the period.
"In the days before television and radio, when all was much quieter than it is today," said Jannke, "families would gather after the day's chores were done around the hearth and tell stories, gossip, and share their reminiscences of days gone by. This is what we are trying to achieve with this show, just a group of people sitting around and sharing stories with the audience. It's like sharing folklore, if you know what I mean."
The choice of presenting the show as reader's theater was purely an artistic one. "In this form of theater," said the director, Bill Jannke, "the actors will be reading, in a dramatic way, from scripts before them. Those not speaking will enact the scene being described in pantomime."
A large cast made up of local talent has been engaged to perform in the show, and those appearing include, Dale Van Holten, Diana Bessel, Gina Symkowski, Meghan Ledwitch, Paul Casler, Rita Nolte, Linda Ewert, Jim Powell, Mark Wolf, Levi Jones, Lee Logging, Mary Jo Kasperzak, Jennie Ortega, Lisa Steffl and Rita Anderson. The show is under the direction of Bill Jannke, with musical accompaniment by Carol Erickson. The technical staff includes Annette Weirick, producer, Jim Steffl, lights and sound, Juanita Edington, vocal director, and Heidi Flanigan, house manager.
"The stories we will be presenting all actually happened and run the gamut from the 1850s through the 1880s," said Jannke. "They are part of the fabric of our city's history, and what better way to learn history than by presenting it in an entertaining fashion. Anyone who loves local history, especially Watertown history, as well as dark tales of murder, revenge and corruption, with a little comedy thrown in for relief, will not wish to miss this show."
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LocationThe Watertown Players Theater (View)
210 S Water St.
Watertown, WI 53094
United States
Categories
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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