(Posted 2:30
p.m., Dec. 8)
OYP's
Christmas offering true to the spirit of the season
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Hayden
Smith plays the Dr. Seuss character everyone loves to hate in the OYP production
of 'The Mrs. and The Elves Tell Stories!'. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The holiday
theatre season got off to an entertaining start this past weekend with the Orleans
Young Players production of “The Mrs. and The Elves Tell Stories!” at
the Shenkman Arts Centre.
The
play, which incorporates five different Christmas stories including “The
Wind in the Willows”, “A Christmas Memory” and “Twas the Night
Before Christmas”, stays true to the theatre school’s 2010-2011 theme
of legends, stories and fables.
The
production opens with Mrs. Claus, played by Biz MacDonald, preparing to read a
story to the hardworking Elves. The first story she picks is the Dr. Seuss classic
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.
The
main character is played by Hayden Smith, who somehow managed to take a break
from rehearsing for Vintage Stock Theatre’s upcoming production of “A
Dickens of a Christmas”, to play the lead role.
The
production was a true ensemble with different members of the cast taking turns
to read the dialogue.
The
story is an adaptation of the children’s classic “The Wind and the Willows”
by Kenneth Graeme.
For
the sake of brevity, OYP artistic director takes two of the main characters, Ratty
and Mole, and has them search for Ratty’s home through the snows of December.
When
Mole catches a scent of his own home, he continues to follow Ratty rather than
ask his friend to turn back. Further down the path Ratty realizes that something
is bothering Mole and they end up turning around and going back.
When
the two friends find Mole’s old home they settle in and find bits of food
to celebrate the holiday season. As they begin to enjoy their “feast”,
a group of young field mice arrive unexpectedly. Rather than shoe them away, Ratty
and Mole ask the field mice to join them.
The
story of camaraderie, generosity and empathy is a wonderful message for the holiday
season especially in this age of mega-commercialism.
The
part of Ratty was played by Ian Stauffer, while Mole was played by Randy Bellini,
both of whom were amazing.
The
third story was a whimsical retelling of “The Ninth Reindeer” aka Olive
the Other Reindeer, in which Vintage Stock Theatre president and veteran actor
and director Marni Hunt-Stephens plays the grandmother and OYP parent Gordo Smith
plays the father in his first ever speaking role. Rudolph and Olive were played
by OYP veterans Petra Hohenstein and Samantha Lipovski respectively.
After
a brief intermission, the play resumed with the telling of “Christmas Kites”,
taking from the book “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote.
Langston’s
adaptation of Capote’s short story tears at the audience’s heart strings.
The story is about two cousins, one much older than the other, who grow up together
in the same house.
The
pair are very close and every year at Christmas they make fruitcakes and decorations
together. During their last Christmas together they give each other kites for
gifts and go fly them in a hidden field. The older cousin describes the kites
as what God and Heaven must be like.
The
younger cousin, whose name is Buddy, goes off to school the next year, and although
they continue to write each other letters, the elderly cousin slowly slips into
dementia and forgets who Buddy is before eventually passing away.
Buddy
describes his cousin’s death as severing the string of a kite and he finds
himself searching the sky for a lost pair of kites hurrying towards Heaven.
Tyler
Smith was marvelous as Buddy, as was Colette Budge who played his older cousin.
The rest of the cast included David Loveridge who played Buddy as the adult narrator,
and Lennis Poupore who played Mr. Haha.
After
the melancholic “Christmas Kites”, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
was a welcome holiday tonic with the Elves playing all the main roles.
The
production wrapped up with a rousing rendition of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.
The
cast of Elves included Sam MacDonald, Hannah Beatty, Hannah Decker, Elyse Gauthier,
Sopia Hullin, Hailey Sterling, Olivia Lebouthillier, Melissa Baird, Allison Perry,
Petra Hohenstein, Alexus White, Sydney Smith, Smantha Lipovski, Vanessa Pauze,
Sam Loveridge, Grace Loveridge, Shae-Lynne Biersdorfer, Holly Norman, Madison
Bellini and Hannah and Julia Duhme.
Supplying
the sound effects and musical accompaniment was music man Russell Levia.
Next
up on the holiday theatre calendar is Vintage Stock Theatre’s production
of “A Dickens of a Christmas” which opens this Thursday night at the
Shenkman Arts Centre.
The
play stars veteran Ottawa actor Paul Rainville and such local notables as Sam
Stephens and Hayden Smith.
Curtain
time on Dec. 9, 10 and 11 is 7:30 p.m. Two special matinee performances will be
held on Dec. 10 and 11 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children
12 and under. A special family rate (two adults and two children) is available
for $50. For reservations visit www.vintagestock.on.ca.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents an all ages production of Treasure Island in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for adults. Students and youth 25 and under $10. To purchase visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents Michael Ben-Shalom live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
TAPROOM 260 presents The Underground live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
CLASSIC PIANO RECITAL – Orléans pianist Emily Hou will be performing works by Chopin, Mozart, Rachmaninov and Liszt at Kanata United Church as part os the Beaverbrook Community Concert Series. The recital will start promptly at 3 p.m. Kanata United Church is located at 33 Leacock Dr. in Kanata. For more information visit 
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. Trivia Night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (613) 834-9005 to reserve your spot. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near the Innes Road McDonalds.
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