Mrs Popper(Amy Blaxton), Captain Cook(David McKelby), Mr. Popper(Jonathan Bragwell),Greta (Anna Swindell), Bill Popper(Kooper Brooks) and Jane Popper(Terra Bragwell) rehearse. | Randy Garrison

Penguins coming to Hartselle

Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

Beginning Wed., Feb. 17, Hartselle and especially Hartselle High School will be invaded by 89 penguins.  Now we are not expecting South Pole type weather, but the College Street Players production of Mr. Poppers Penguins will begin. Productions for students will begin on Wed. and the productions open to the public will be presented Thur., Feb 18, and Fri., Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Hartselle High School auditorium. There will be a matinee production on Sat., Feb 20, at 1:30 p.m. and the final production will be presented Sat., Feb. 20, at 7 p.m.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a three-act play written by Albert O. Mitchell from the story by Robert and Francis Atwater. The play is under the direction of Dena Nagel.

The story takes place in Stillwater, USA and involves the Popper family. Mr. Popper is a house painter who when not working spends his days dreaming of explorers and adventurers, especially those in the Arctic (North Pole) or the Antarctic (South Pole.)

Popper one day writes to the famous explorer, Admiral Drake about how much he enjoyed the pictures of Drake’s latest expedition in National Geographic, and how funny he thought penguins were.

Admiral Drake then decides to surprise Popper with a live penguin, sent to the Popper home. The penguin named Captain Cook spends his time exploring in the Popper home, and the family makes a home for him in the family refrigerator. Adventures run high as Captain Cook adjusts to his new home.

However, problems arise when Captain Cook becomes ill. Mr. Popper worried about the sickly penguin, writes the local zoo asking for advice. Instead of advice the zoo sends another ill penguin by mail. The problem turns out to be the birds are lonely. The two penguins soon recover after being united. The new penguin is a female and soon there are newly hatched penguins all over the Popper home.

The Poppers already have limited finances, since Mr. Popper’s painting business is seasonal and the winter months are lean. The added houseguests strain the already limited budget. Mrs. Popper wonders if the family should sell the penguins or eat them. Mr. Popper comes up with a plan to train the penguins and take them on tour.

The Popper’s put together acts, which incorporate what the penguins do on a daily basis. The local theatre owner becomes enthralled with the penguins and offers Mr. Popper a handsome salary and books Mr. Popper’s Penguins on a 10-week cross-country tour at some of his other theatres.

Jonathan Bragwell plays Mr. Popper. Bragwell has been involved with College Street Players for four years. He got involved since his daughter Terra, who plays the part of Jane Popper, was involved in theatre. Mom, Sarah Bragwell, has also been involved in several productions and plays a reporter in Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Newcomer Kooper Rooks plays the part of Bill Popper. Rooks is a fifth grader at Danville Middle School.

Amy Blaxton plays the part of Mrs. Popper. This is her first time to be an actor in a production. She is usually working behind the scenes when both of her children Garrett, who plays Oscar in this production and Emma Jo, who is a penguin, are in productions. She mentioned it has been a lot of work learning the lines. Blaxton records the lines and listens to them to help her remember and learn the lines.

Other members of the cast include David McKelvy who plays the part of Captain Cook, the first penguin to move into the Popper household. McKelvy is a 6th grader and has been in several productions. Anna Swindell, a seventh grader and veteran of four plays, plays Greta, the female penguin arriving second to the Popper household.

McKelvy and Swindell both say the reason they participate is because the people in the plays are really nice, it is a fun group of people and they love Ms. Dena (Dena Nagel) and Ms. Cindy (Cindy Davidson). Davidson is responsible for most of the costume work in each of College Street Players productions.

Other cast members include a police women, played by Susan Delgado, Express Delivery, played by Melanie Byers Ashley, veterinarian played by Leslie Johnson, Mr. Greenbaum played by Jimmy Giers, Roberta played by Leah Johnson, servicemen played by Quiinten Keliinoi, nosy neighbor Mrs. Callahan played by Lori Knox, bill collector played by Kim Gibson, Flash played by Stephanie Yarbrough and audience member, Emma Sue Carnes. Movers include Stacey Nash and Kayla Lacy along with Nathan Johnson, Jamilynn Yarbrough, Corey Tyer, Ellie Nash, Zachary Amos, Blake Poff and Jonathan Swindell.

Popper’s Performing Penguins come in all sizes and ages with the youngest being 21 months. The performing groups include parent & child, sibling, 2nd – 5th grade, 6th & 7th grade, and baby penguins.

Nagel remarks, “ I have a passion for working with children and giving them an opportunity to be on stage. They really seem to enjoy it and it is good experience for them to be a part of the art. This is a wonderful venue for those kids not involved with other extracurricular activities.”

Tickets are available at the door, or in advance at collegestreetplayers.org, Hartselle Chamber of Commerce and Journeys by Design Travel. General admission is $10.00, student admission and seniors is $8.00 and children three and under are free.