For most folks familiar with "King of Hearts," that 1966 French British offbeat cult favorite film starring Alan Bates and Genevieve Bujold comes to mind. Many have seen this endearing movie screened at liberal arts colleges. The plot involves an American soldier who comes upon an abandoned French village during the last day of World War I only to find the place inhabited by the freed people of the local insane asylum. Few know a musical adaptation exists. SJA parishioner and Theater Latte Da Artistic Director Peter Rothstein discovered the soundtrack recording while in New York and decided it was a perfect choice to stage here in Minneapolis with Theater Interact, a troupe that employs actors with disabilities. Their collaboration, which opened April 21, receives an enchanting staging at Loring Playhouse; complete with a six piece orchestra under the superb guidance of musical director accompanist Denise Prosek.

Parishioner Peter Rothstein

Billed as an antiwar treatise, the play challenges logic and sanity within the context of war. War serves only as a setting and reminder of how the sane have come to know only violence and control as a way to exist with one another. The insane, whom are clueless to war machinations, only know celebration, appreciation and acceptance as a way to live with one another. Using more of the gritty horror of war and its aftermath could serve a great lesson to the theme here but, hey, it happens to take place over the last day of World War I. This production focuses more on the vulnerable and misguided feelings a "normie" person feels when approached with dealing with people of disabilities. For a unique twist, Rothstein mixes up some of the casting so a few Interact actors play the sane while Latte Da members play the insane. The results produce a beguiling pairing that challenges stereotyped perceptions with deeply enriching performances that touch the heart of humanity.

Joel Liestman plays Johnny, the soldier who confronts the deranged inmates. He invests genuine charm and earnestness while singing a strong tenor range. Stacey Lindell, possessing a lovely lyrical soprano voice and charming comic timing, makes the most out of Jeunefille, a cardboard ingenue type who is being groomed for life as a sweet naive prostitute by her parents; father Genevieve, played with wit and hijinks by David Roberts, and mother Madeleine, a lasciviously demonstrative type, impeccably acted by the authentically French Josette Antomarchi: "Nice? Pink is nice. I want a raging volcano."

Bewildered Johnny ends up swimming in a sea of double entendres and sexual innuendo by the banter of these three characters, who having been locked up for insanity, are clueless to what bombs and guns are. When confronted with a rifle, Madeleine thinks it's a camera and insists everyone pose for it. Tod Peterson, a Latte Da artistic associate veteran, brings sparkling playfulness to the role of the dithering Bishop: "We are gathered here to see how I do."

Tod Petersen as the Bishop

Billy Tomaszewski as Demosthenes and Stacey Lindell as Juenefille

Rothstein and his Latte Da cast and crew spent over six months working with Interact actors in creating this gem of a theater production. That luxurious time frame is unthinkable by most theaters who usually abide by the standard rehearsal period of one month in length. Just getting actors with disabilities to the theater is challenging. Their usual mode for working is spontaneous improvising. Getting them to adjust to precision in blocking and choreography, singing with cut offs, along with delivering rote text, make for an alarming demand on them. The pay off delivers triumphantly. The singing, movement and text perform seamlessly as the Interact and Latte da actors beautifully blend together to create a tight cohesive ensemble that moves briskly along singing gorgeous harmonies. Billy Tomaszewski offers a sprite-like witty posturing as Demosthenes and Erik Wheeler, Matt Dahstrom and David Bauman as the bumbling German soldiers glide giddily along as Keystone cops.

Steve Tesich's book lacks tension, squandering the necessary interplay with issues of war that should involve the characters. Jacob Brackman and Peter Link, however, have composed a score that frolics with sass, energy and irony. Prosek's assured musical direction strikes a balanced and nuanced tone with all of the bustling activity. Kathy Kohl's costumes are inventively decorative, expertly rendering flouncy can-can spirit with WWI detail. John Clark Donahue’s wondrous "Alice in Wonderland" style set pairs a black n' white checkered floor with the enormous half face of a clock tower upstage amongst a captivating painted village. Performance, design, music and stage activity come together exquisitely under the detailed eye of Rothstein, who brings a portion of the cast and script to mass on Sunday, May 1st.

Joel Liestman as Johnny	Josette Anotomarchi as Madame Madeliene

This production poignantly marvels a theatergoers experience. How comfortable cast members looked in working with such challenging obstacles. Such impressive stage presence and execution of movement and pacing come from the entire cast. Joyously funny and entertaining, a huge amount of effort went into pulling this piece together. Definitely make it a "to see" on your list of theater ventures.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

Rick Spaulding is a photographer specializing in digital photography for the theater and works for National Camera Exchange. He is also an antique dealer and eBay afficianado who enjoys collecting marbles but his true joys in life are his two boys and his beautiful wife, Tinia.

King of Hearts performance schedule

April 21—May 22

Thursday—Saturday 8 pm

Sunday 2 pm

Special Monday performance: May 9 7:30 pm

Post-show discussions each Sunday

Location: The Loring Playhouse

1633 Hennepin Ave.

Minneapolis, MN

Tickets: $15—$25

Call 612-343-3390 or visit www.latteda.org