Purple Rose Theatre Revamps Jeff Daniels' "Escanaba in da Moonlight"

As deer hunting season gets under way in Michigan, the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea is revisiting Escanaba in da Moonlight, a comedy written by actor Jeff Daniels, to kick off its 2011 season.

Escanaba first premiered in 1995 and follows the hilarious escapades of Reuben Soady, a hunter living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. At 43, Soady is in danger of becoming the oldest member in the history of his family never to bag a buck. On the eve of the opening day of the 1989 hunting season, Soady attempts to change his luck by altering several of his family's time-tested rituals and traditions.

"Things are going really well at rehearsal," said Guy Sanville, Purple Rose artistic director and former Escanaba resident. "With all due respect to the casts who have done this show before, I think this version is the definitive version and the most hilarious one yet."

Sanville, who directed the 1995 version of the show, said audiences who saw the original Escanaba on stage or on film will be pleasantly surprised.

"The published script is a reflection of the movie, which was filmed in 1999. We’re going to be doing the '97 version of the script, when Jeff (Daniels) did a major rewrite," Sanville explained. "I think it is the best one."

Sanville said returning to Escanaba has been an enjoyable journey with the cast.

"After 16 years, we thought it was time," he said. "We thought it would be fun to give it another shot.

"It's like we've never done the show before, and yet we have. We're all 16 years older and better," he said. "It's like doing a brand-new play for the first time. I've never laughed so much in rehearsal than I have with Escanaba. You are going to see things that have never been done before with live theater."

Along with some new scenes and castmates, Jim Porterfield (Albert Soady) and Wayne David Parker (Jimmer Negamanee) will return to the roles they originated on stage at the Purple Rose.

"Returning to the role of Jimmer Negamanee is a great honor," Parker said. "I was lucky enough to be cast as this wonderful character originally, and I'm excited to be back."

Sanville said the show has become somewhat of a cult classic among fans, who have launched clubs and movie parties while dressing up like the show's characters.

"Everyone can relate to this guy who is trying desperately to bag a buck. It's a comedy, but it's also a story with a message behind it. People love underdog stories," Sanville said.

Preview performances for Escanaba in da Moonlight are tonight through Sept. 29. Regular performances run from Sept. 30-Dec. 17. Evening shows are at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; matinees are at 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets can be purchased online at purplerosetheatre.org.