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(Posted
12:30 p.m., Nov. 29)
Classic
holiday production a treat for all ages
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 Marie
is thrilled when she sees her Christmas gift
which she names Clara in the Orleans Young
Players Theatre School production of 'The
Nutcracker'. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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On a weekend filled with plenty to see and do to get you
in the holiday spirit, none is more guaranteed to put
a smile on your face than the Orleans Young Players Theatre
School production of "The Nutcracker".
Featuring
a highly talented lead cast and a collection of the cutest
little mice and sugar plum fairies you will ever see,
the OYPTS production is one of those must see events during
every holiday season.
By
now most people are familiar with the tale about the nutcracker,
the toy soldier and the ballerina who come to life in
a young girl's dream about the Suigar Plum Fairy and the
Land of Sweets.
For
those of you who aren't familiar with the story, Marie
and her younger brother Fritz are visited on Christmas
Eve by their Uncle Drosselmeyer who is a magician and
talented toymaker.
He
gives each of them a toy; a ballerina for Marie, and a
toy soldier for Fritz. He then gives them a third present,
a handsome nutcracker, which the two children fight over.
Later
the same night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Marie
sneaks into the parlour to check on the nutcraker which
she has taken a liking to. The room is immediately filled
with mice and the Christmas tree grows until it dwarfs
Marie. The ballerina, the toy soldier and the nutcracker
then come to life and a battle ensues between the mice,
led by the Mouse King, and the toy soldier and the nutcracker.
Just
when it appears the Mouse King has gained the upperhand,
Marie causes a distraction by throwing her slipper at
him allowing the nutcracker to kill him. As the mice retreat,
the nutcracker turns into a handsome prince and brings
Marie and the other characters to his kingdom in the Land
of Sweets.
On
the way they are visited by dancing snowflakes and the
North Wind. Before long they arrive at the Land of Sweets
where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy who has
been ruling the kingdom in the Prince's absence.
To
celebrate the Prince's return a massive party is held
with sweets aplenty. As the party concludes, the audience
is transported back to the original parlour where Marie
is found sleeping with the nutcraker in her arms and the
ballerina and toy soldier close by her side. When she
awakes she tells them about her dream and they all share
a good laugh.
In
the OYP's all ages adaptation of "The Nutcracker",
Uncle Drosselmeyer is actually Auntie Drosseleyer; Marie
throws her doll Gertrude instead of her slipper at the
Mice Queens who are defeated without being killed; and
Land of Sweets is inhabited by several endearing characters
including Tooti-Frutti, Bonbon, Taffy and Butterscotch.
The
production including all of the performances are top notch.
In particular, Sylvia Glenn is superb as Frau Drosselmeyer
and Karen Bolt is wonderful as the Sugar Plum Fairy, but
the real stars of the play in my humble opinion are Lauren
Jane Hudson and David Corrigan as Marie and Fritz. Corrigan
also does double duty as a fiddler.
The
rest of the lead cast is rounded out by Sara Remillard
and Sebastien Melbourne as the mother and father; Jarrad
Haas as the toy soldier; Henry Wells as the Nutcracker/
Prince; Audrey Matheson as Clara the doll; Danielle Pabstel
as Bittersweet the Gatekeeper; Heather Glenn and Michaela
Yu as Butterscotch and Taffy; Charity Wessel and Sydney
Maloney as Tutti-Frutti and Bob Bon; and Faith Girvan
and Steve Ryan as Minstrel and Maestro Sweet.
The
Orleans Young Players Theatre School production of "The
Nutcracker" can be seen in the Richcraft Theatre
at the Skenkman Arts Centre this Saturday and Sunday.
Curtain time both days is 2:30 p.m. Tickets available
at the door.
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Marie
wakes up from her dream as her mother and
father, Frau Drossekmyer and her brother Fritz
look on in the Orleans Young Players Theatre
School production of 'The Nutcracker'. Fred
Sherwin/Photo
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
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Commons Corner
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Queen's Park Corner
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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.
