For the bohemian in you or the bohemian you once were or even may soon become.

Bring likewise folks together for story telling about the good old days and break into that infectious sing-along. For the perfect environment to set your mood, just use Theatre Latté Da’s set from their smash hit production of La Bohéme, currently playing at the Southern Theater in the West Bank district. Sound familiar? SJA’s own concert series host and piano man Dan Chouinard gathered performers and musicians together using this very set at the Loring Playhouse back in March 2005 with Slogging Through Bohemia (see our review http://www.stjoan.com/er5/bohemia.htm).

Chouinard decided to do it again November 4th over a fresh time-changed Sunday evening and playfully greeted the audience with “Welcome to standard time.” He titled the event Bohemian Rhapsodies with an eclectic lineup that included Maria Jette, Ann Reed, MPR’s Dale Connelly, Mark Stillman, Josette Antomarchi, Molly Sue McDonald, actor Dylan Fresco, Opera singers Jill Sandager and James Howes plus SJA’s Fred, Anna and Carin Vagle.

Not all went well for performers that evening. Sima Shimulovsky was scheduled and had to cancel at last minute and Anna Vagle, suffering from a viral type of laryngitis, was not able to speak for the night. Spirits bubbled with the exuberant entertainment offered, however. Performance artist Josette Antomarchi, first up, ornately dressed like a French gypsy, performed a cover of Charles Aznavour’s French composition “La Bohéme” with subtitles shown on a banner above the stage. Ah, the song’s most telling phrase rings in that true bohemian spirit— “We lived on nothing at all.”

Chouinard, trying to recall what’s bohemian about him, declared “My bohemian credentials are a little thin. De-pilling my favorite sweater disqualifies me for a bohemian.” Opera singer Jill Sandager who plays Musetta in the current production of “La Boheme” gave a preview of her flirtatious aria “Quando me’n vo—When I go along.” Keeping in character, she noticeably put Chouinard on the spot as he accompanied on accordion. Standing behind Chouinard as he sat, Sandager tousled his hair and mischievously caressed his face while singing. Oh, the blushed look on his surprised face was, let’s say, priceless.

Recalling her bohemian years, folk singer, guitarist and songwriter Ann Reed said, “My first gig was at a church in the late ‘60s in Minnetonka. We played subversive songs like “Blowin’ In the Wind.” The conservative congregation, thinking they were too radical, would say “Get those hippies off the altar.” Reed, with guitar, sang her first written song that she liked, “Road of the Heart.” Looking back at her expansive 30 year career, Reed remarked, “Most of the time when I don’t let the business interfere with the art, I do OK.” She really got the crowd working it with her signature sing-along “Irene.”

Minnesota Public Radio morning DJ and gifted raconteur Dale Connelly suggested that the hours of his life were bohemian. “I get up at three in the morning, dressed by four, on the air by five.” He recited an anniversary poem about Norm Coleman confusing Lake Superior with Lake Erie. Connelly also admitted he doesn’t fall asleep in the afternoons from his early call at MPR; he takes walks with his son. He then impressively recounted his long winded but superbly funny poem about diaper changing.

Actor Dylan Fresco who hails from New York and came to Minnesota to study at Carleton College sang in Russian “Exhausted By the Sun” with Chouinard accompanying on accordion. Fresco’s second tune, a bitter love song titled “Dark Eyes” showed off his affable comedic timing as a performer. Violinist Jim Price and accordion player Mark Stillman followed playing two Romanian gypsy tunes. Then with Chouinard accompanying on piano, tenor James Howes who plays Rodolfo, a poet in “La Boheme”, sang the world’s greatest pickup line, the aria “Che gelina manina—What a cold little hand.” Though emotively remote and poker faced, technically he gave a stunning performance.

Mark Stillman and Chouinard put ferocious muscle into an energetic accordion duet with a 15/16 time signature, satisfying folk dance music from Northern Bulgaria. Stillman laughed recalling back in 1970 when he and band mates drove around Eastern Europe in a van using their piano as a make shift bed.

Singer Maria Jette has done so many service industry jobs while maintaining her lengthy performing career: a cook, baker, waitress and a singing waitress in 1983 at the old Gustino’s Restaurant. Now an established opera singer, Jette sheepishly remarked that she and others drank wine in paper cups while working at Gustino’s. She gleefully pushed the camp factor as she sang “puff” while crooning the old Gene Gilford/Ned Washington composition “Smoke Rings.” Then selecting “a piece I won by guile”, Jette observed, she performed a cappella, a performance of Dominic Argento’s “Silver.”

SJA’s Director of Liturgy-Music Coordinator Anna Vagle may have been experiencing laryngitis (she communicated with “Yes,” “No,” and “?” signs) but she gamely made up for it by playing three different instruments. SJA musician and technical coordinator Fred Vagle, her husband, a self described “Scandinavian farm boy,” talked about meeting Anna for the first time, she coming from a family of ten in Stearns County. Their bohemian lifestyle as struggling musicians lasted for years. They would play and sing in night clubs and bars while raising five children. Eventually they landed a recording contract and employment at St. Joan’s. “I didn’t get a real job until I was 40; now we’re back to being bohemians again because that’s how it is” cracked Fred. Playing guitar and singing, he launched into one of his favorite compositions “Please Dance the First Dance With Me” accompanied by Anna on a sumptuous sounding melodica—a “mouth piano” and Chouinard on piano.

Michael Reinbold, SJA resident web reporter, freelances as a writer and does banquet catering at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice, low Christology and collaborative ministry, Michael also participates as a mass reader, SJA Choir member and Team Oz Red Ribbon rider. With an extensive background in theater, photography, fundraising, social activism and as an arts council panelist, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring social growth and witty exchanges.

Their daughter, singer Carin Vagle followed with her gentle rendition of “Poor Wayfaring Stranger,” making the most with effective gesturing while Fred played guitar and Chouinard accordion. Anna and Fred followed with an enchanting instrumental where she played what looks like a music box, the kalimba—a “thumb piano”. Dale Connelly quipped, “That’s like hearing someone play a solo on your door bell.” He and Ann Reed then read some amusing radio announcements regarding down to earth bohemian basement lofts.

Veteran musical performer Molly Sue McDonald and Maria Jette joined for a fun duet of “The Grass Is Always Greener,” a song about the woes of the drab suburban housewife pining for the glamorously spoiled and chic lifestyle of a her best friend, a well known celebrity. Chouinard and Stillman on accordion, Price with violin and Fresco singing closed out the evening performing “Those Were the Days,” an arousing sing-along which probably sums up the sentiments of many of the audience members who have or are returning to a bohemian lifestyle.