The Souris Valley Theatre’s inaugural Bordertown Bootleggers Run attracted a variety of participants, but it didn’t have as many people as organizers wanted.
The event took place on Aug. 6 at sites in and around Estevan. About 30 people gathered at the starting point of the Souris Valley Museum and the Visitor Reception Centre west of the city, where they registered, picked up a scorecard, rolled the dice three times and picked up a bottle of “hooch,” which was a soft drink.
From there, they travelled to the Estevan Public Library, the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) and neighbouring North West Mounted Police Museum, the Woodlawn Regional Park’s Boundary Dam and Souris River gate houses, the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course’s clubhouse and, finally, the theatre’s Frehlick Hall.
At each stop, they rolled the dice thrice. If they paid $5, they could roll the dice a fourth time.
Participants had three hours to complete the circuit.
“It was a lot of fun and it was a beautiful day,” said SV Theatre board president Maureen Ulrich.
Mark Claxton, who portrayed Fat Phil in the theatre’s production of Volstead Blues, was at the final stop at the theatre, and helped the participants play a game of craps.
“They are very creative, our casts, and they are so invested in everything we do, so it was great to have them participate with us,” said Ulrich.
Robyn Ruzicka recorded the highest score with a 109 through the eight different stops. She won vouchers for the 2017 theatre season and $140.
Ruzicka, her husband Troy, and their daughters Brooklyn and McKenna came in full period costume, and won the prize for the best-dressed participants.
Bernie Bjorndalen had the best vehicle with his 1969 Falcon.
The participants also had to have some of their “hooch” remaining once they reached the theatre.
A food truck was at the theatre’s grounds for supper. The day wrapped up with a presentation of Game of Phones by the theatre’s Act 3 summer camp students, and the final showing of Volstead Blues, which depicts life in Estevan during the days of Prohibition.
Ulrich noted the bootlegger run participants could view a display at the library that offered a lot of information on Prohibition, or they could take a look at exhibits in the EAGM that pay tribute to sport in Saskatchewan.
She believes a Prohibition-themed event like the bootleggers run was the perfect way to wrap up the showings of Volstead Blues.
“We were just so glad that people jumped on board,” said Ulrich. “It wasn’t the numbers we would have hoped for, but for people to dress up and bring out their vintage cars and get out their motorcycles, it was awesome.”
