‘Lumberjacks in Love’ Is a Heartwarming Slice of Sconnie Shenanigans

Originally published in Milwaukee Magazine 11/13/24

Picture this: yer up nort’ in Wiscahnsin, choppin’ down trees with a buncha other bark eaters (lumberjacks) in the town of Hayward sometime during the turn of the century. Day in and day out, you cut wood, come back to the shanty (logging camp), drink some Hayward Lightning whiskey and spend your life isolated with three other guys. 

That’s where we start at the beginning of Lumberjacks in Love, a Sconnie-themed story about what happens when four men try to fight off encroaching love, playing now through Jan. 12 at the Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret.

Throughout the play, the power of love shows up in all forms: self-love, familial love, the love between friends and romantic love. When four burly loggers are faced with a decision to embrace love or run from it, panic and chaos ensue. 

The story kicks off with the dim-witted Dirty Bob (Ryan Cappelman) ordering Minnesota Slim (Joe Picchetti) a mail-order bride named Rosemary Rogers (Molly Rhode). Slim, already scorned by the scars of a former lover, does not want to meet this bride who’s set to arrive at the camp in a few days time. 

When The Kid (Eva Nimmer)—who lives secretly in the camp disguised as a boy— catches wind of the situation, she hatches a plan to swindle Minnesota Slim into falling in love with her before the arrival of the mail-order bride. 

Meanwhile, Dirty Bob, Muskrat (Doc Heide) and Moonlight (Chase Stoger) are each struggling with their own love challenges. Dirty Bob can’t move on from the loss of his mother – in fact, he hasn’t showered since she passed over 20 years ago. 

Moonlight, with his nose constantly in the pages of romance novels, is seeking love in unlikely places. And Muskrat, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday, is thrown into existential dread and questions his place in the crew. 

Around 90 minutes of hijinks and shenanigans lead each of these guys to love in all forms, culminating in a funny and heartwarming third act that lifts the whole story to a satisfying, love-filled resolution.

This production is packed with earworms. They’re a collection of tunes, played live, that carry some exposition, tap into the characters’ “inner selves,” and contain hooks that will have you singing “Lumberjacks in loooove” from the Stackner Cabaret all the way back home. 

The whole crew has a stand-out voice and presence – it’s a true ensemble cast. With so few people on stage, and only one static set, there’s nowhere to hide a weak link in this production. Luckily, each actor is as strong as the next. 

Each performer gets some moments to shine. There’s lots of physical gags, incredible use of props and an overall warmth to the performance that makes it a great respite from the dark and cold of the season. 

And love is truly in the air at the Milwaukee Rep. Actress Molly Rhode (Rosemary Rogers) grew up attending the Rep’s “Pay What You Can” nights and later became one of its emerging professional residents. She met her husband Chase Stoeger (Moonlight) in the same Stackner Cabaret where they now perform together in Lumberjacks in Love. It’s two love stories in one.

Lumberjacks in Love is showing now until Jan. 12 at the Milwaukee Rep’s Stackner Cabaret. Tickets can be purchased online.