Every year, Winter Carnival swoops in to relieve Vernon residents of their winter blues. And, every year, Michael Poirier plays his part as writer/director to enliven the festival.
Poirier91裸聊视频檚 Backstage Theatre presents Wonderland Retirement Home Feb. 7-10 at the Schubert Centre as part of the Vernon Winter Carnival. This year, the Carnival91裸聊视频檚 theme is Carnival in Wonderland.
91裸聊视频淚 do wait until the theme of Carnival comes out (to begin writing),91裸聊视频� Poirier said, adding that he has written plays for Winter Carnival since 2006. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about a retirement home for actors who never made it to the red carpet, and they91裸聊视频檙e all down on themselves 91裸聊视频� a little depressed.91裸聊视频�
Characters in the play, reliving their glory days by refusing to let go of the characters they once embodied, are disheartened by the day91裸聊视频檚 lacklustre 91裸聊视频渂ig91裸聊视频� news: Wonderland is receiving new bingo cards. Gus Calling91裸聊视频檚 Ninja Man (Mike Panian) and Chancey Calm91裸聊视频檚 Tinkerbell (Betty Anne Northup), like the rest of the gossip-fuelled actors that call Wonderland home, are constantly at each others throats, which only serves to make matters worse.
91裸聊视频淭he new owner tries to bring moral up by producing a play, but if anyone wants to act, they have to get along,91裸聊视频� Poirier said. 91裸聊视频淲hen the opportunity comes to get back on stage and have fun, they compromise their comfort zones on the regular to serve that opportunity. It91裸聊视频檚 a play about relationships and coming to terms about aging with dignity.91裸聊视频�
Backed by a six-piece band led by music director Julie Armitage, the two act musical comedy features a Winter Carnival-themed menu complete with a two protein buffet.
91裸聊视频淚 had someone who said, 91裸聊视频業 come to your plays because I get greats plays and great dinner. It91裸聊视频檚 like going to a music night,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Poirier said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a very great relationship we91裸聊视频檝e had with the Schubert Centre.
Wonderland Retirement Home91裸聊视频檚 score compiles hits from a multitude of genres, from classic rock to big band, to Woodstock-esque tunes and folk jams.
91裸聊视频淗opefully there91裸聊视频檚 something there that appeals to everyone,91裸聊视频� Armitage said. 91裸聊视频淭his year was a bit of a challenge with the Wonderland theme. We ended up using songs that reflected more about either characters or what they were trying to convey.91裸聊视频�
For example, Armitage said, Nurse Nancy (Lori Hancock) sings The Doors91裸聊视频� classic hit Light My Fire while drooling over a photo of her crush. Moreover, the score seeks to add to the fun ambiance found in Wonderland Retirement Home.
Poirier, a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and Best Ensemble and Outstanding New Play Award-winner, put the finishing touches on the script in October. It then went to a first reading in November with four-times a week rehearsals beginning in January.
However, the playwright of more than 25 productions fell into the craft by mere coincidence.
91裸聊视频淚 never let anyone read anything I wrote,91裸聊视频� Poirier said of his early days in writing. 91裸聊视频淚 let Anne (an aquaintance and member of the local theatre society) read one of my short stories and she asked if I could write a play. I wrote a play for her, and I was just hooked.91裸聊视频�
Several years, a handful of films, and dozens of short stories and scripts later, Poirier is looking forward to the curtains opening on Wonderland Retirement Home.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 unbelievable the amount of people who stood up and wanted to have fun,91裸聊视频� Poirier said of the audition process. 91裸聊视频淚f you can91裸聊视频檛 walk away happy after putting on a performance, it91裸聊视频檚 not worth it. To me, that91裸聊视频檚 what theatre is all about.91裸聊视频�
Wonderland Retirement Home runs at the Schubert Centre Feb. 7-10. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $49 at the Winter Carnival Office, 250-545-2236, or the Schubert Centre, 250-549-4201.
entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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