Brother-sister bickering keeps the relationship between Roger Stevens and Beth Jacobson hopping throughout the production.  Eventually, even audience members would take great joy in belittling Jacobson's character, Dolly, for her annoying mannerisms. (Photo by Linda Goldsworthy)

Local Teachers Bring Bickering Siblings to Life

“I have a lot to be thankful for,” says Roger Stevens, who will bring Charlie Davenport, a character from Annie Get Your Gun to life in less than three weeks on the Three Lakes Auditorium stage, as part of the Three Lakes Theater Company’s ninth production.

And thankful he is for wife Marsha, children Eric, Matt and Amy, a wonderful job, and the pleasure that music brings to his life.

“Life without music would be boring—black and white. Music changes it to color,” explained the School District of Three Lakes K-12 physical education teacher.  “Music can change my moods. If I have a rotten day, I can put a cassette in the car, and I’m transferred.”

Ironically, however, Stevens didn’t sing in high school nor while attending UW-Oshkosh where he was heavily involved in sports such as basketball and baseball.  In fact, his love of musical theater came from an unlikely source—his future father-in-law, Don Watermolen of Green Bay.

“He’d been a barbershopper for many years,” recalled Stevens. “In one of my earliest visits to his house, he invited me to sit down and watch The Music Man with him. It’s still my favorite musical, hands down.  The music is outstanding, and it has a lot of everything—it’s a comedy and a love story.”

While Stevens enjoyed the exposure to musical theater, he wasn’t quite ready to attempt it. He didn’t begin singing until about 10 years ago when he joined the Nicolet Men’s Choir.

“I think that the comedic aspect is his strength,” noted TLTC creative director Mari Lynn Garbowicz.  “He’s well suited for comedic roles.  His body language, facial expressions, voice inflection all lend themselves to comedy. 

Stevens, a teacher of 26 years would eventually use his height and the ‘ham’ to develop Mr. Cigarette, an AODA educational character.

“Mr. Cigarette was an idea I had because of my involvement in the AODA position.  I wanted to create a character that could get a health message to younger students in a unique manner from which they could learn,” said Stevens, who uses visuals, a lot of comedy and magic to get students involved in the presentation.

But Mr. Cigarette has more meaning than just that of a character for Stevens.  “Coincidentally, he (Mr. Cigarette) did appear at a time in my life when my older brother suffering from cancer due to tobacco. Every time I do the show, I think of him.”

It seems to be the personal connections, like those with his father-in-law and his brother, that bring Stevens to the stage.

“I enjoy working with people who have a common interest. It’s a very fun environment,” commented Stevens on being part of the Three Lakes Theater Company.  “I’ve become very good friends with several people, including Don Phelps.  Doing this show has also become an opportunity to do something with him and to give something back.”

Annie Get Your Gun is just the type of show that allows Stevens to give back. “It’s a vivacious show filled with singing and dancing.  It’s a Wild West show.  I like the comedy factor and the more singing and dancing, the better,” he explained.

“My character, Charlie Davenport is a kind of free spirit—he isn’t tied down to a girlfriend.  He comes and goes as he wants to.  As the manager of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, he makes choices.  There’s an independent air about him that does appeal to me. I also enjoy getting to be a smart aleck to my on-stage sister Dolly.”

“I think their interaction exemplifies the typical brother-sister relationship, with the brother liking to play practical jokes on his sister and using it to his advantage to get what he wants,” explained Garbowicz on the Charlie-Dolly relationship.  “Roger plays it like everybody’s big brother.  Their chemistry is outstanding.  It comes off as normal brother and sister.”

Meet Dolly

“All I know is that Mari Lynn asked me to do it—I don’t remember there being tryouts.  There must have been auditions, but I don’t remember them,” noted Beth Jacobson, the only Three Lakes Theater Company member who has participated in every production except Cinderella.

She’s graduated from being a mustached pirate in Peter Pan to the role of Dolly Davenport-Tate in Annie Get Your Gun. Dolly, the insouciant, limelight-loving assistant to Wild West Star Frank Butler, is the character that everyone loves to pick on.

 They even seem to have higher expectations for each other—people memorize things a whole lot quicker than they did before, knowing that the sooner that you know the lines, the easier things like blocking will come.”

“Beth always does what’s asked of her, whether a supporting role, chorus role or lead.  She’s supportive, prompt, professional, and gives 120 percent,” noted Garbowicz of her close friend and colleague.

Originally from Half Day, Illinois (so named because of its location, a half a day’s buggy ride to Chicago), Jacobson’s family moved to Eagle River in 1971 when she was in fifth grade.

Music, she recalled has been a constant in her life.

“The radio was constantly on. We would listen to it during breakfast. My mom had a piano. And we had records on all the time. I remember Tom Jones, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass—50s music. My mom and dad even knew how to do the Jitterbug,” explained Jacobson, who then offered to go downstairs and pull out her mother’s collection of 45s.

Her love of music isn’t always popular, however, especially with her 11-year-old son David and her 4^th grade students at Three Lakes Elementary School.

“My students will say something that will remind me lyrics, and I will break out into song,” laughed Jacobson, as David cringed in the background, obviously having experienced the worst thing a parent can do to a sixth grader. “I try to put little flairs in my classroom here and there. Breaking out in song . . . I guess I like to do something a bit weird.”

Breaking out into spontaneous song is an action those closest to Jacobson might expect; however, that’s not her typical behavior.  One of the things that attracted her to the stage was opportunity. “It allows me to be someone I’m not. I’m very middle of the road.  I admire people who are assertive.”

Although she appeared to be reluctant to admit it, the role of Aunt Eller in Oklahoma ! was her favorite to date.  “Aunt Eller was out there. She was fun.  As the family matriarch, she bossed all these men around.  She didn’t have a lot of lines—she was just a go-getter type of lady, not like me at all.”

“Aunt Eller needed to be feisty and in control, but yet she had a tender side,” explained Garbowicz of her Oklahoma! casting choice. “Beth was able to pull that off.”

“I don’t feel like I fit into Dolly all the time,” noted Jacobson on her role in Annie Get Your Gun. “It’s because she’s not like me.” 

Yet she can’t imagine not doing the show.  And she wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of husband Bruce, who picks up the slack during the three months leading up to performances.  She met Bruce a week after getting her job in 1984.  

“We went on a blind date and the rest is history,” she joked. “He decided to fall in love with me because I knew how to fish.” 

While Bruce doesn’t feel an urge to join her on stage, it appears as if their blessing from God, adopted son David, does.

“He’s carrying on the drama tradition,” noted the proud mother. “He had a lead part in the 4^th grade—Prince Llewelynn, and he’s participated in both of the Missoula Children’s Theater productions.”

This year the soon to be 12-year-old David joins his mother on stage in Annie Get Your Gun. “He’s really enjoying it.  I thought I’d have to worry about him more. But it’s nice to share this experience,” concluded Jacobson, who seems to be passing on a love of music to her son just as her parents did for her.

Page last updated on 06/04/2008