BELLE FOURCHE—The Tri-State Museum’s new addition transformed into the inside of a spaceship for the setting of the play No Pluto? No Problem! on the evening of April 25 and again on the afternoon of April 26.
An original play written and directed by Museum Director and Playwright, Kristi Thielen, the play No Pluto? No Problem! was educational and entertaining with a touch of humor mixed throughout, as it told the tale of a Plutonian spaceship trying to come to terms with the change of the planet Pluto to merely a dwarf planet.
Originally written in the early 2000s, Thielen had to update the script as new information was learned about Pluto. “I wrote this in about 2009, it was first produced at the Journey Museum—it was different at that time because the flyby hadn’t taken place yet—I did have to adapt it somewhat with the information from the flyby,” she said.
As a fan of the planet Pluto, and now dwarf planet Pluto, Thielen enjoyed writing the play.
“The Journey Museum had a space program and they had videos that they ran about space and I’m an outer space nut, I’ve always loved Pluto,” explained Thielen. “So it didn’t have to take much to get me interested in writing this, I have been a fan of Pluto since I was a teenager!”
Tri-State Museum took the opportunity to utilize the stage in the new addition for a second time when presenting the play No Pluto? No Problem! “This was the second theater performance that we’ve done in the gallery, and we’re very pleased with it,” said Thielen. The Tri-State Performers, kids from ages K through eighth grade, performed to a full house.
Auditions were held March 31 and April 1 for 13 scripted roles, the young actors had the month of April to learn their parts. Learning their lines at home the youth had only three scheduled practices to perfect their characters.
The audience was enthralled with the production, as the cast of kids recited their lines with ease. The cast consisted of: Savana Schwender as Queen Charon, Max Dixon as Commander Spheroid, Easton Soriano as Boysen, Joyce Keating as Raizel, Francine Lipp as Mrs. Tombaugh, Lakinn Schwender as Lem, Katherine Fowler as Golde, Scarlett Bercier as Miss Ammonia, Lux Kirstine as Dr. Maven, Nash Kirstine as Tyson Kuiper, K.J. Soriano as Tavi, Natalie Venter as Oyslendish, and Adlei Gerbracht as Tick.
At first a little concerned about the downgrade from planet-status for Pluto, Thielen has since accepted it. “I initially was (concerned) now that the flyby has taken place and we know how remarkable it is and I know they truly will be studying it for centuries to come,” she explained. “Now, I’m not concerned, it’s still a remarkable place! So call it whatever you will, it’s still beautiful and amazing!”
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