‘Tis the season for laughs’
Holiday classic featuring comedy, music, but no fruitcake jokes
Holiday classic features comedy, music, but no fruitcake jokes.
Expect music and laughs when you attend this year’s “Tis The Season 9.”
Just don’t expect any fruitcake jokes.
Yes, the hearty cake is standard fodder for holiday insults but comedian Bette MacDonald admits she quite enjoys a slice of Christmas cake now and then.
“You know what, everyone in our family does too,” MacDonald confided on Wednesday. “All of us, every single one of us, love it. We’ve heard all the jokes about it and we make them. “But we all can’t wait to eat it.” If ticket sales are any indication, Nova Scotians also can’t wait for the ninth annual instalment of the show which will also star MacDonald’s husband, fellow comedian Maynard Morrison. Three shows have already sold out in Truro (Dec. 1-3) and sales are going well in other areas as well. Performances will be given Dec. 4 and 5 at the Decoste Centre, Pictou; Dec. 7 and 8 at Halifax’s Rebecca Cohn; Dec. 9, at Liverpool’s Astor Theatre; Dec. 10 at Tatamagouche’s Grace Jollymore Joyce Theatre; Dec. 12 and 13 at SAERC in Port Hawkesbury, and Dec. 17 and 18 at Glace Bay’s Savoy Theatre.
This year’s show will feature the addition of new cast members, actress/comedian MaryColin Chisholm and jazz guitarist Joe Waye Jr. Singer/songwriter Jordan Musycsyn will also join the cast in Pictou on Dec 5., Halifax on Dec. 7 and 8 and both evenings in Glace Bay.
“It’s great to have him,” said MacDonald. “He wrote a song for the show so that’s pretty nice.”
Expect some jazzy Christmas standards from MacDonald herself as she re-interprets some classic holiday songs.
“A lot of the older Christmas songs are standards so they will be in there too.”
The cast is now rehearsing and early indications say it’s humorous.
“We’re still in the stage where we can’t stop laughing,” said MacDonald. “I think that’s a good thing but we will have to stop that before we open of course.”
And while popular characters like Mary Morrison will return, it will not be the same show compared to other years.
“The show is about 90 to 95 per cent new material so we’re excited about that,” said MacDonald. “We just wanted to change things up because we want it to evolve.”