Opening tonight and running through May 24th, BoarsHead Theater is presenting Jeff Daniel's 'prequel' to "Escanaba In Da Moonlight", affectionately titled "Escanaba In Love". This new offering from Jeff is the back story of sorts of "Da Moonlight" set 40 years earlier. Making a re-appearence in this new production of "Escanaba In Love" is Wayne Davis Parker, who portrayed the loveable elfen, gibberish-talking Jimmer Negamanee in "Da Moonlight" - both on stage originally at the Gem Theater in Detroit and in the movie version. He now is playing 'Da Jimmer's' dad, Salty Jim Negamanee - not as 'spaced-out' and unintelligbe as Da Jimmer, but exhibiting the same family traits - such as having the wild streak and the drinking streak.
When I first met Wayne David Parker in D-Hall at Dearborn High School in the fall of 1972 (back then we called him 'Dave'), I knew he was an extremely talented dude. Both he and I were involved in the 'liberal arts' class offerings at Dearborn High - choir, drama, Thespians, and any performing arts stuff we could sink our teeth into. Dave was a true performer and class clown supreme, whom I affectionately referred to as 'the happy elf'.There were several of us creative-types in the DHS 1975 class. Besides Dave and myself there was Mark Beam - who went on to be a sculptor who is well-collected by major celebrities, worked on set design for "PeeWee's Playhouse" and "My Two Dads", and whose 'cow' sculpture was the basis for the main character of Nickelodeon's "Barnyard" animated movie and TV series. Then there's Ward Powers - director of the documentary "One", and Ross Mapletoft - computer animation guru in Hollywood and a voice in "The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars"
Over the years Dave and I crossed paths quite a few times at auditions for voice talent work, on-camera TV jobs, and other offerings in the Detroit area. We took seperate show biz career paths - Dave pursuing stage and film work, and I pursuing a career in the music industry, voiceovers and radio.
There was always hilarity at our class reunions. At our reunion in 2000, Dave showed up in full 'Da Jimmer' character with long hair and full beard. At first, I thought he was some stranger that happened to crash the reunion. But when I discovered who it was, we had a good laugh. At our last class reunion, Dave and I decided to be in every group shot of different grade school and junior high classes - knowing full well someone would finally say something about (which took almost all the group shots occuring before someone said, "Hey, you guys aren't from this class!").
I will be making a trek to BoarsHead Theater to visit my old classmate Dave and continue to support his continuing career... as I hope he continue to do so with mine.
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