Hobnob Theatre takes a historical adventure in “Butler Magic”
Viewers of the Hobnob Theatre Company’s new production will be swept back in time to the 1920s alongside the film’s main character, encountering how the town and its people have evolved in a century, just in time for America250.
“The idea was, how can we tell a story that utilizes things that people will recognize from Butler that are both the same today and in the past?” Eric Cook, the director of the film, said.
The story of “Butler Magic” begins in modern day 2026, where the protagonist, played by Matt Leslie, is working in an antique store. When he comes across a magic statue, he’s unexpectedly plunged into the past, engaged in a fight to get back to his modern life. In 1926, he encounters romance, conflict and a tense rivalry.
The film is a part of the Steeples and Stacks America250 celebration, organized by the Butler Cultural District, which aims to bring together artists and performers to honor the city’s artistic heritage. The fantastical, family-friendly comedy features historic landmarks around Butler, where plenty of past generations created memories.
“We were shooting at the old high school, like, that building has memories of generations of families whose kids have gone there, like, some people in our cast had gone there,” said Casey Hoolahan, a cast member playing a 1920s woman.
The entire film is based, filmed and produced in Butler. Local performers and writers are all involved in the movie.
“The fact that this also has local people, local scenery, local little Easter eggs, I think people will get a real treat out of this,” Cook said.
Down to the style of editing and viewing, the movie gives it’s audience a taste of how cinema was experienced in the 1920s. The silent, black and white film is reminiscent of what a movie was really like at the time. The Butler County Symphony Orchestra will underscore the live showing of the film.
“I’ve never heard laughter or reactions or tears in a modern movie theater the way I have in a live, silent film production,” said Cook.
Cook, a filmmaker and musician, can attest to how difficult live musical accompaniment can be in matching it to a prerecorded film. In a musical, the musicians and the actors on stage can work together to stay on pace. When accompanying a movie, the image on the screen can’t adjust with the music.
The goal of the orchestra, in this case, is to make the audience think there’s a soundtrack to the movie rather than the live performance being the focus.
“People will come up after the show and say ‘I forgot there were live people there, I thought there was just a soundtrack,’ that’s what we want to do,” Cook said.
Filming in a public space requires more work than in a studio. In a closed space, the director can manipulate the scenery and set. Modern dress, vehicles and technology are just a few of the elements that must be accounted for.
“We quickly learned, you know, all kinds of little details suddenly pop out that you would never expect when you’re filming,” Cook said.
In a public setting, it becomes harder to change the environment to fit the scene. Often times, the camera angle can be adjusted to keep the scene in the past.
“When you do a play, you can control what’s on the set. But when you’re filming out in the real world, you can’t control that,” Cook said.
Actors in the film also have to adjust to portraying a different time. Those in scene must stray from modern social norms and mannerisms to uphold the 1920s feeling.
Hoolahan, who has performed in Shakespeare in the Park with Hobnob, has some experience in period piece performances. She said she tries to play characters from the past in a simple way.
“I was just kind of thinking about the social norms of it and trying to play into that and separate it from my modern character,” Hoolahan said.
The way characters interact with each other changes to fit the times as well. The way they shake hands, speak and even walk needs to fit the classic film style.
“Even just, like, a man being close to you is different back then,” Hoolahan said.
The style of the movie was inspired by a handful of classic, 1920s-style films. While time travel isn’t a rare trope, Cook said the theme was born from a specific 1924 film, ‘Sherlock Jr.,’ directed by Buster Keaton.
“Butler Magic” will premiere at the historic Penn Theater on July 11 during the Steeples and Stacks Heritage Weekend. Free showings will be available at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
