Laugh-out-loud good theatre
‘Dear Santa’ a hit; no lumps of coal for Annapolis District Drama Group
There will be no lumps of coal for the Annapolis District Drama Group.
It was laugh-out-loud community theatre in Annapolis Royal Dec. 1-3, with the Wayne Currie-directed Norm Foster play Dear Santa drawing good crowds for three performances -- and leaving them laughing.
Currie sat at the back of the house while a cast of talented locals tackled the mostly comical, sometimes tender play that had an often-frazzled Santa caught up in the middle of a series of unfortunate incidents that left the Jolly Old Elf scrambling to fix things.
But sometimes, one man’s problem is another person’s solution, and while Santa sees all, the audience can only guess at how the North Pole shambles can be turned around in time for Christmas.
An opening night standing ovation propelled the small ensemble into the Saturday evening edition, where the acting was excellent as each character worked through being the bane of Santa’s existence to being part of the solution. It’s classic Foster, and a play that works so well at the community level.
Take Nina Habinski as supply train stowaway Kit Bishop, for instance. Just the right tough teen tempered with caring sister. This Alexis Bledel look-alike owned the role and not just her lines. She had the only real singing part in the play and delivered it pitchperfectly with the help of a handful of elves – and it was, perhaps, the highlight of the play.
Miles Leahy obviously loved his role as a frustrated Santa and played perfectly off sidekick Brian Rice, who was the gloomy, allbusiness, chief of staff Algernon Gladstone, the butt of the alwaysfunny Christmas hat joke and the fun-making elves’ friendly taunts.
Simon Bonnington was outstanding as Lou Flapdoodle, the rocket sleigh salesman who irritated Santa to no end, but when the chips are down has the means by which to save Christmas. Was Bonnington funny? Yes - tears-inyour-eyes-from-laughing funny.
Young Sam Cooper took the role of Bozidar and made it his own both with his Russian accent and his nutcracker, soldier-like portrayal – but with a soft side. He had them laughing at almost every mixed metaphor and with Algernon in the stuck-togetherwith-glue scene was outstanding.
Kudos go to Eloise Mailman who played Santa’s housekeeper Octavia whose crush on the grumbly Gladstone was a touching thread through the play. Mailman was lovable and Broadway-good in the role as she unwittingly helped make things better and worse at the same time.
Small roles as Kit Bishop’s mother and younger sister were enthusiastically played by Nina Habinski’s real-life mother, Shelley, and younger sister, Lily.
Finally, if the real Santa was to select elves, it would be Skiffle (Karen Tomasino), Piffle (Haley Dawn Beatty, Phooey (Linda Hulme Leahy), Balderdash (Colleen Rowland), Yeegads (Rachael Cheechoo), and Fiddlesticks (Alex Hancock). When timing is everything, they were spot on with every laugh and giggle – and who knew elves could sing?
Jane Dewolfe was stage manager and Brian Dickinson was musical director.
Dear Santa ran nights on Dec. 1 and 2 and as a matinee on Dec. 3, maintaining its draw right to the end.
With community theatre of this calibre, we can’t wait to see what the Annapolis District Drama Group has lined up next.
I know a lot of you are hoping for a white Christmas this year. After the bout of flurries we’ve had lately, there is a good chance a white Christmas will happen.
Or maybe it’ll be like previous years and we’ll all have a green Christmas with plus side temperatures. I know one thing is for sure, on Dec. 16 I will be having a BLUE Christmas because world champion Elvis tribute artist Thane Dunn is returning to the Valley to celebrate the holidays with his Christmas with the King stage show extravaganza.
I am a bit of an Elvis fanatic in case you’ve never met me. Everything from ’50s Jailhouse Rock Elvis to leather suit 1968 comeback special Elvis through to portly rhinestone-clad Elvis of the ’70s.
Any artist who can still sell millions of albums 40 years after their death and still be as iconic is a true superstar to me and seeing Thane Dunn in action is the closest I will ever get to seeing the real Elvis Presley.
Imagine going back in time and watching Elvis Presley perform his Las Vegas show along with singing his favourite Christmas songs. You can experience all the timeless classics from Blue Christmas to Blue Suede Shoes, along with some good ole Elvis gospel and many never performed songs as Thane Dunn and his incredible band take to the Horton High School stage on Dec. 16 to razzle dazzle the Valley with scarves, curled lips, rhinestones, and teddy bears.
Cadillac Kings
Even if you’re not as big an Elvis fan as me, seeing Dunn and his eight-piece Cadillac Kings band recreating history is something to behold for anyone looking for a great show filled with lots of fun, familiar songs, and Thane’s unique brand of humour, charm, and showmanship.
Christmas with the King happens at the Horton High School auditorium in Wolfville for a one-night-only stop in the Valley. This show is very special to Thane and the kids at Horton High School, as a portion of the proceeds from the show go to the Horton High Safe Grad program. This program and the future of today’s youth are very important to Thane and he hopes you’ll come out, have fun, and support the wonderful students at Horton High.
Elvis Presley has become the most impersonated icon ever, and where most miss the mark completely, Dunn will creates an experience so close to seeing Elvis live and in the flesh that this show is endorsed by those who actually worked with Elvis onstage. Bill Baize, High Tenor singer with JD Sumner and the Stamps Gospel quartet, who performed with Elvis from 1971 until 1976, says, “Thane Dunn is the closest thing to Elvis I’ve ever seen.”
Tickets
I strongly suggest picking them up early to avoid disappointment. You can purchase tickets in advance at Milne Court, New Minas; R.D. Chisholm’s, Kentville; and at Muddy’s Convenience on Main Street, Wolfville. There’s also a limited supply of VIP tickets available that include a meet and greet with Thane and the band.
This show is family-friendly and a great way to introduce the younger generation to the greatest entertainer ever! The Horton High School auditorium will be all shook up by the man that becomes Elvis onstage.