In today’s lively world of electronics and off-the-wall technology our wide and glitzy array of entertainment choices can include mega concerts, massive movie theatres with big screens and surround sound, 70-inch TVs and all those other everyday gadgets on which we can download anything, as well as Skype, text, Twitter, tweet, and chat throughout the world.
On the Easter weekend, four of us took advantage of a special Christmas gift and attended the ‘Oh Boy- Buddy Holly’ Jubilations dinner theatre at West Edmonton Mall. The 1950s music was fabulous and it didn’t take long for us to start grooving and going back to the wild and wonderful ways and days of our youth. The food was out of this world, and the acting and the close and personal action and comedy kept us cheering and chuckling to way past our usual bedtimes. This rollicking three-act presentation was led by six very talented performers who throughout the night superbly played a total of 16 characters, which also included many quick costume and set changes that were ably assisted by a top-notch supporting cast. A real treat was getting to meet all of the performers as they wandered through the crowd before the show even started, as well as a chance to shake their hands and perhaps grab an autograph right after the spectacular finale. This particular rockem-sockem production has drawn packed houses at the Jubilations Theatre from Feb. 7 to April 12, when they hit the road for the rest of their nine-month tour, maybe even on the stages of Broadway.
Like many others around Ponoka in days gone by, yours truly always enjoyed live theatre, and can fondly remember all the way back to the great days when I strutted around the gymnasium stage of the Ponoka Junior High School as a member of Mrs. Eileen Hailstone’s drama class. If we forgot our lines, the prompter was hiding in the wings with the script or you could just ad-lib until you got back on track, but we didn’t dare start laughing in the middle of a serious or red-hot scene.
Ponoka and district families have always had the unique and fun opportunity of watching or taking part in countless live theatre productions over the years at our schools or churches, as well as under the direction of such energetic groups as CHAPS or the present very active Ponoka Klaglahachie Fine Arts Society. It was from these humble beginnings that former local youthful actors such as Shaun Johnston (Jake and the Kid/Heartland) and Jade Carter (Jag/Office Ninja/Love or War) and many others would get their start and an opportunity to advance their talents and earn a place on the international entertainment stage.
Dedicated teachers such as Harold Dootson, Kevin Ferguson and many others have carried on that always exciting ‘drama tradition’ in our schools for many years, which so many of us will recall as an amazing and rewarding experience for students, as well as a joy for the families and community audiences that sit on the edge of their seats and cheer them on, time and time again. The Klaglahachie Fine Arts Society is a very active local arts society that has been involved with community theatre and family friendly events for many years. The goals of this non-profit society, which is based at the Ponoka United Church, is to encourage youth and adults of all ages to take part in their annual music and drama classes, as well as to give them the opportunity to take part or volunteer in one of their productions. Some of KFA’s earlier local presentations have included: Ann of Green Gables, Sound of Music, Jake and the Kid, White Christmas, Barnum, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream coat, and A Christmas Carol, as well as regular special features during the annual Ponoka Stampede week. For more information on their programs please call 403-783-4087.
Taking in or taking part in a live theatre presentation is like stepping into another world for a few hours and then quickly becoming a part of the story, the music, the drama, the dancing, the laughter and everything else about that really big show that is unfolding in living color just a few feet from your comfortable seat. Many of these delightful theatrical adventures are also staged as community fundraisers for countless special causes, which is a two-fold benefit and experience for all involved. We all have the hope that someday everything will make perfect sense, so for now, let’s laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears and keep reminding ourselves that everything happens for a reason. On top of all that, just go ahead and have a great week, all of you.