The FOSSE (Figures of Speech Student Ensemble) production of Paul Bunyan was a terrific success! Audience response in all four venues was amazing. And best of all, the project did what it's designed to do: it stretched the students and gave them an experience they'll never forget.

In the words of one participant, "I've enjoyed working with Figures of Speech more than any other activity in high school. FOSSE has truly helped me develop as a person... I just want to thank you for how positively FOSSE has affected my life."

Though we here at FST are best known for drawing our inspiration from global tales, sometimes we find material right in our own backyard. This January and February audiences around southern Maine were entertained by an outrageous, zany, original Tall Tale of the Mightiest Mainer: Paul Bunyan!

The choice to tackle tall tales allowed us to yuk it up with a laugh-a-minute performance, larger-than-life personas, and a little dash of cute (thanks, Babe!).

FST's Director of Education, Ian Bannon, once again served as the director of the production and led the students in a theatrical exploration of turn of the 19th/20th century tall tales and actual accounts from the lives of woodsmen of the period.

Visual arts mentor Olan Boardman provided inspiration and guidance as the students created shadow puppets in the folkart style of Pennsylvania Dutch Scherenschnitte, or paper cutting. And Tim Findlen, front man for the Portland-based throwback band Over a Cardboard Sea, helped the students to breathe life into the production with a homespun, vaudevillian-inspired musical score and sound effects.

This year we challenged ourselves to give the students a feel for life on the road as a performer. We opened with one show in Freeport and then took it on the road, performing for diverse audiences in Portland, Westbrook and Peaks Island.

The concluding performance on Peaks Island was especially touching as we performed a free show for the entire community. And boy did they come out to support us! Mother Nature was on our side too for that final gig, providing a glorious sun-soaked day. We thanked her as we rode back across Casco Bay on the roof of the ferry, our rag-tag bunch of gypsies playing their hearts out for all to hear!

We wish to thank the Maine Art Commission, whose SMART program provided major support for the project, as well as the Freeport Performing Arts Boosters. Holy mackinaw — we couldn't have done it without them!