Stories come to life at library: Traveling actors teach children improv

By PATRICK ADRIAN
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CLAREMONT — Shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Fiske Free Library, actors Brock Berkner and Grace McDonell, of the Hampstead Theatre Company, completed a rousing, one-hour play compiling several stories from Greek mythology, and are busily boxing up their props and costumes. In 15 minutes, they will begin a second portion of their program, an improvisational workshop with children.

In some ways, Berkner’s and McDonell’s program resembles a modern-day Elizabethan traveling acting troupe. From May through August, the two bring their two-person plays to libraries and other venues, carrying their portable set along with their costumes and props. Only unlike Elizabethan actors, their horse and wagon is a Prius.

“Our program specializes in taking the classics and adapting them into a 45- to 50-minute, two-person show,” Berkner said.

The Hampstead Theatre Company is a nonprofit educational theatre program based in Barnstead, New Hampshire. This is Berkner’s second summer season with the company and McDonell’s first.

Each season has two shows, which the actors alternate between during the season. On Friday in Claremont, the actors performed a new play called “Stories in the Stars,” an original work fusing several stories from Greek mythology. The other play this season is “The Jungle Book.”

Over 20 children and several adults attended the performance.

“It was a good-sized library crowd,” Berkner said. “It was a bit under our average, because we usually have summer camps in attendance. But we’ve also done shows with only two people, and those are still fun because they are still really into it.”

Assistant Children’s Librarian Alaina Granter said she was amazed how captivated the youth were throughout the performance.

“I could have waved my hand in front of their faces and they wouldn’t have noticed it, because they were so focused,” Granter said.

At 2:15 p.m., once Berkner and McDonell had finished packing, a handful of children returned for the improvisation workshop, where the actors would teach the youth some acting skills through fun activities.

The company performs for a range of venues, from libraries to local theatres, with average pricing per show ranging from $400 to $1,100 depending on audience size and package. The company also offers a variety of discounts to educational providers, as well as bundled deals. The company’s offerings include plays, post-play discussions, workshops and educational materials.

The library funded the program with a Kids, Books and the Arts grant provided through the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Cogswell Benefit Trust, with support from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and National Endowment of the Arts, the New Hampshire State Library and Museum and Library Services.

“Grants really help us extend our programs in the summer, which can be very expensive,” Children’s Librarian Marta Smith said. “So it’s important that we acknowledge them.”