“Grin and Bear It” actors Ryan Staska, Cherri Price, Annette Smith, Dena Selby and Tresham Gregg rehearse in preparation for the production’s debut in early December. “Grin and Bear It,” a tongue-in-cheek show inspired by the town’s bear problem, is the Lynn Canal Community Players’ first production since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For many, 2020 has offered few opportunities for laughter. Tresham Gregg and the Lynn Canal Community Players are trying to remedy this through “Grin and Bear it,” an original tongue-in-cheek theater production inspired by this year’s bear problem. The production’s two performances will take place Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. Tickets will be available for $10 at the door.
Gregg began writing “Grin and Bear It” in September as the community experienced unprecedented amounts of bear-caused property damage and saw a surge in bears killed in defense of life and property. At least 29 brown bears have been killed outside hunting season in Haines this year, 27 of which were shot.
“(Grin and Bear It) is a reaction to the bear dilemma, travesty or tragedy we’ve got going on here. It’s not necessarily giving answers but making it seem like there’s more to the story, looking at it from the point of view of the bears,” Gregg said.
He said he hopes the show provides viewers the opportunity to laugh and to reflect on the issue.
“I hope that it increases a certain amount of tolerance for the bear activity and our own prejudices, or predetermined stances, on wildlife and bears and our own activities,” he said. “But it also gets across that everybody doesn’t need to take themselves quite so seriously even though it’s an issue.”
Gregg, who is also the show’s director, producer, costume maker and one of the actors, describes it as a “lighthearted romp” that incorporates singing and pantomime elements. It features a small cast whose members move between roles as bears, complete with bear masks Gregg designed, and roles where they remove the masks to play humans.
“I’m a bear. I’m also Molly, a housewife who’s petrified of all those big, scary bears,” actress Annette Smith said. Acting with a mask presents an interesting challenge, she said. “You don’t have a face to indicate your emotions. You have to do it all with body language. It’s a whole different acting skill.”
Smith said she likes the way the masks tie the performance to another overarching issue in 2020-the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think it’s a cute concept. You’re in a bear mask, which basically hits on the big themes this year-COVID and the bears. It’s an opportunity to laugh at each other and relax about it,” she said.
In addition to Smith and Gregg, other performers include Ryan Staska, Cherri Price and Dena Selby. Todd Sebens is lighting the show and Dan Mahoney put together the songs. Gregg received a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts to rent the theater, hire a facilitator and make the costumes.
This is the first production the Lynn Canal Community Players have put on since the pandemic began. Rehearsals for “Grin and Bear It” began in late September.
“I think the Lynn Canal Players decided to undertake doing something to help entertain during COVID days, to keep things on a light level,” Smith said.
There will be COVID-19 mitigation measures in place for both performances, including limiting the theater to 50% capacity, leaving every other row vacant and putting space between members of different parties. Masks will be required for entrance and there will be no intermission.