But you didn’t expect it to be 1908, did you? The Fisherman’s Daughters comes to the Stackner directly from the Northern Sky Theater, fully voiced, fully fleshed out, and with the polish and elan we have come to expect from Northern Sky. But what I didn’t expect was The Fisherman’s Daughter. Often Northern Sky Theater presents cabaret musicals playing off of the stereotypes of’ ‘up north’ and relying heavily on comedy in both story line and music. But this time Katie Dahl’s remarkable book, music, and lyrics bring us a drama worthy of what we might consider more serious theater with nuance and complexity that is quite exquisite. And director Molly Rhode is clearly aware of the subtleties here and brings them all to the fore…well maybe not…some subtleties remain subtle and you will be rewarded for maybe paying closer attention than you are used to doing in the Stackner.
Now don’t get my wrong, this is still the Stackner Cabaret after all. And Dahl’s songs are memorable and telling and playful all at the same time and her lyrics tell us an enchanting story that goes deep and one that we will want to hear. And there is laugh out loud humor!
Dahl’s story is loosely based on real Wisconsin history, the formation of Door County’s Peninsula State Park, coincidentally the home of Northern Sky Theater. It is 1908 and an emissary for Governor James O Davidson, a Progressive, arrives via steamer in Fish Creek to assemble the land for the park by soliciting the locals to sell their farms and homesteads to the state. And like any public attempt at assembling a large bit of property it is both well and ill received. The two major protagonists here are sisters, daughters of a local fisherman who has passed away. Nora and Sarah Peterson have different views on life, how to live life, and where to live it and it has become something of a wedge between them. Nora returns to Fish Creek just as John Murphy arrives to work on assembling acreage for the park. Their conflict is central to our story and there are any number of side glances and surprise events that transpire during the play.
Sarah is embodied by Kelly Doherty, who is seemingly sentimental and attached to their home and carries some resentment at Nora for heading off to Chicago. Doherty’s portrayal is loud and direct and may seem a bit rude at first but she eventually melts and makes the biggest surprise transition of the characters here. Brush up on your Norwegian if you want to keep up with her.
Eva Nimmer is Nora Peterson and she has just returned to Fish Creek from Chicago. Nimmer portrays a confident and self assured woman but as the story continues we understand that she is a bit conflicted and keeps more to herself that we imagine. And Nimmer’s voice easily carries across the room!
Alex Campea plays the new arrival from Milwaukee, John Murphy. They just create an excitement on stage of someone getting their first big opportunity and their first chance at a big adventure. But Campea also exhibits a fair amount of naivete for a city boy plopped down in rural Door County.
And Chase Stoeger plays Charlie. I am not quite sure what Charlie does for a living…he is constantly on the move, always delivering things, and always talking talking talking to everyone. He admits to talking too much. Stoeger’s Charlie never stops moving, has boundless energy, is as fluid and graceful as a dancer, and is just simply electric. And he has a crusade of his own that he is endlessly trying to get Murphy behind. Stoeger is remarkable!
Ostensibly the play is about the building of Peninsula State Park. But that’s just the over story. Dahl’s true story telling embraces small town versus big city. Some of the funniest bits for us in the Stackner are a couple of swipes at Milwaukee for being dirty and crowded (in 1908?). But the friendly vibe of the small town is clearly at the fore. And the ‘ineffable beauty’ of Door County is mentioned several times in earnest and in jest. And the coming of a more modern era is indicated by building a park for all by uprooting the ‘original immigrant’ residents of the area. And of course the Peterson family story is the pivotal story as we discover the dynamics between sisters and of course their memories and even though he’s gone, their relationship with their father and his legacy. And lastly, our feeling of place and memory. Something that particularly struck home for me.
One bit to watch for…which relies on a great tune from Dahl and a great bit of directing and choreography from Rhode…is the recurring song at the fish pack…with great singing, dancing, and percussive sounds that present a happy bit of the fishing village’s life cycle.
The Fisherman’s Daughters continues through March 1, 2026 in the Stackner Cabaret in the Associated Bank Theater Center. Ticket info here!
Extra Credit Reading: The Program
And don’t forget to celebrate Leif Erikson Day!
