Children’s museum to offer locally-written play.

Children’s museum to offer locally-written play.

LUDINGTON — What happens when Ludington’s legendary folk hero, Ossawald Crumb, bumps into a magical and venerable white pine tree named Grandmother Pine, three forest animals who talk, and a wise Ottawa elder?  “Great fun for children of all ages,” is how local playwright and director Rick Plummer of “The Amazing and Almost True Tall-Tale of Ossawald Crumb and the Michigan White Pine” answers that question. The short, 30-minute, children’s play is being offered by Sandcastles Children’s Museum free of charge to parents and children Friday, August 6 at 7 p.m., and again twice on Saturday, August 7, at 11 am and 2 p.m.

Kristin Korendyke, Sandcastle’s executive director, said the play teaches valuable life lessons about living in peace and harmony with nature and the chilling effects of clear-cutting and deforestation. “Yes, the play carries an important lesson for children,” according to Plummer, “but it’s also full to the brim with pure entertainment,” he added Plummer said there is plenty of children’s theater magic in the show, and he is sure children and parents will love it.

The play features several animal characters made famous in the Anishinaabe language of the Ottawa peoples— Waawaashkeshi, the white-tailed deer, Makwa, the black bear, and the large trickster rabbit, Gitchii-Waabooz. The play centers around wise, old Grandmother Pine, Zhingwaak- Ookomis, and an Ottawa elder named Leading Thunder. 

Kali Gilbert is seen as the sweet, the white-tailed deer. Her husband, Sean Gilbert, is cast as the trickster rabbit. Wise, old Grandmother Pine is played by Christine Plummer. Paul Garland plays the black bear, Cathi Bates, who is proud of her Cherokee heritage, plays the Ottawa elder, Leading Thunder. The fabled lumberjack, Ossawald Crumb, will be played by Elliot Plummer. Providing music before the play begins is local musicians, Kaedin Plummer and Ella Jarvis.

Ossawald Crumb is a cartoon character created by Robert Stearns, son of Mason County lumber baron and philanthropist Justice Stearns (and Paulina Stearns). 

Korendyke said the Sandcastles team is pleased to offer this wonderful play free of charge for area children, but she suggests that parents and their children should arrive early to ensure a seat for the evening performance on Friday night, as seating is limited. Children at the museum during the Saturday performances will likewise be restricted to space available at the museum’s upstairs stage area.

For further information about this free children’s theater performance or about the museum, call 231-233-9326, or email Korendyke at sandcastleschildrensmuseum@gmail.com.

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