Dearly beloved: you will be gathered in the fields and forests, the beauty and the glory, that is the lands of the Syilx and Secwépemc territories.
You will witness love, animals, and music. You will be regaled by local history.
You are cordially invited to The Bear and the Proposal, the summer offering of Spallumcheen's legendary Caravan Farm Theatre, which runs July 9 to Aug. 4.
The play is, as director (and Caravan artistic director) Estelle Shook describes, "a saucy take on Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's hilarious plays, set in the Okanagan, circa 1800s.
"The land was peopled by the Indigenous and settler characters whose relationships were instrumental in establishing what we now know as the main cities and towns of the Okanagan," said Shook, sitting in the theatre's Cook Shack, enjoying lunch. It was Shook who did the adapation of The Bear and The Proposal.
"Right now, preparations are very good. We have a fantastic cast. It's a great story, really fun material."
Shook also describes Bear and Proposal as a "historical fiction romance," using the Netflix television series Bridgerton as an example.
Theatre-goers will be introduced to historical characters, well-known early settlers of the Okanagan.
You will meet Susan Allison and Capt. Frederick Houghton, an army captain with significant ties to Coldstream Ranch. Houghton's daughter, Marie Houghton Brent, along with Allison, contributed many writings in newspaper articles and the Okanagan Historical Society with regards to their recollections of the people and events of the 1800s. Their writings also deal with Syilx and settler relations.
For Shook, it was a ton of fun delving into the history, and she hopes to pass that along to the audiences.
"I think we all have the ability to appreciate the generations that went before us," she said. "The details of their lives and relationships are so compelling. It helps one appreciate the present.
"People will be intrigued by the history and the Syilx Okanagan connection." Thanks mainly to Bill Cohen of the Okanagan Indian Band, who was a huge help to Shook with the project.
Every actor in the cast plays a musical instrument so there will be music peppered throughout the play – also Bridgerton-esque, said Shook. Not music from the era, however. But a contemporary pop score. Unplugged, if you will.
"It's a seven-piece band, all playing acoustic instruments," said Shook.
And, of course, in true Caravan fashion, the play features both four- and two-legged animals.
Making a cameo will be Hank the Tank, a working pack horse complete with diamond hitch. Caravan regular Big Mac, a percheron, is part of the ensemble. And Shook is busy auditioning chickens, one of which will be worked into the play.
"There will be lots of spectacular things to see," smiled Shook. "It's a very family friendly show."
The Bear and The Proposal runs daily except Mondays. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. You are asked to show up before 7 p.m. Tickets are available through caravanfarmtheatre.com.