November 12, 2012
Scott's team sets up camp
Driving past Whiteface Mountain this evening and seeing the snow clinging to the ski trails already puts my mind on a wintry path toward the chilling production that is in store for me tonight.

I am on my way to Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake to see Ted Tally's abstract play, "Terra Nova."

I find the promo teaser line quite compelling: "In the winter of 1911-12, five Englishmen and five Norwegians raced each other to the bottom of the earth. Only the five Norwegians returned. This is the story of the Englishmen."

And what a tale it is. The play is based on the true story of British Naval Officer Robert Falcon Scott's fatal expedition to the South Pole in 1911-12. This was Scott's second attempt to make it to the bottom of the earth. In 1910 he organized this journey, sailing on June 10 for Antarctica on the ship, Terra Nova. After the long voyage and final preparations, Scott's team of five set out on foot for the geographic pole in November, 1911. Unlike his Norwegian counterpart, Scott traveled without animal support, his thousand-pound sled being hauled by his own men.

Pendragon's production is both gripping and gritty which is exactly what the playwright prescribed according to the study guide on hand at the theatre.

Chris McGovern with Megan MacDonald and Chris Leifheit

The set is stark and costumes and props are minimal. We learn about the whole expedition in pieces from Scott himself and his diary entries, from his strange interactive hallucinations with Norwegian expedition leader Roald Amundsen, from memory scenes with his wife Kathleen, and from the action scenes with his companions on this frigid journey.

All along the way, there are moral decisions that must be faced. Between the treacherous environment and the moral conflicts, I am reminded of a movie I saw several years ago, "Touching the Void," also based on a true story about two ice climbers in the Peruvian Andes scaling the West Face of Siula Grande. The times had changed but there are some parallels between the deep moral questions that arise in both of these expeditions.

The Dinner Party
This Pendragon production introduces a new face to the acting troupe. Scott's wife Kathleen is played by Megan MacDonald, a graduate of the New York Conservatory of the Dramatic Arts in New York City. Robert Scott is played by veteran Pendragon actor Chris McGovern whose team of five all sport familiar faces to regular theatre goers in Saranac Lake. Their sense of camaraderie is quite convincing, especially in the dinner party scene.

Tonight is opening night, so there will be plenty more opportunities to catch "Terra Nova" both at Pendragon Theatre or at another venue to which it will be traveling between now and February/March 2013. For more information on this and other Pendragon events click through to the theatre's web site.

Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.

Scott's team sets up camp
Chris McGovern with Megan MacDonald and Chris Leifheit
The Dinner Party

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