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A Seuss Christmas Carol
A New Twist on the Christmas Classic
Scrooge hasn't seen anything yet! This new presentation being staged by DanceWorks and Candlewick features youth from the Xplor Drama and Dance Studio to present a wild and wacky "Seuss" version of the favorite Dickens Christmas tale. Complete with zany characters, wacky sets, and lots of fun performances, the presentation is one the entire family won't want to miss.
Presented by DanceWorks Dance and Xplor Drama students:
Friday, November 12, 7 PM - Morden Kenmor
Saturday, November 13, 7 PM - Morden Kenmor
Sunday, November 14, 3 PM - Manitou Opera House
Cast Includes:
- Zach Hildebrand - A Cat in a Hat
- Sian Kroeker - The Scrinch
- Mollie Wheeler - Fred
- Liam Klassen - Cratchit
- Marius Klassen - Sam I Am
- William Labonte - I am Sam / Young Scrinch
- Taryn Wiebe - Marvella K. Mooney
- Dakotah Harms - Whoville Decorator
- Morgan Harms - Max
- Elisabeth Reimer - Mardley
- Robyn Jones - Spirit of Christmas Past
- Kate Heide - Scrinch's Sister
- Brianna Friesen - Fezziwig
- Mikah Harms - The Scrinch's Fiancee
- Gabriella Untereiner-Falk - Spirit of Christmas Present
- Olivia Zacharias - Mrs. Cratchit
- Hannah Driedger - Cindy Tim
- Natalie Krahn - Fred's Wife
- Kiera Peters - Fred's Wife's Sister
- Aileen Holzrichter - Spirit of Christmas Future
- Thomas Cram - Street Whoville
Crew Includes:
- Producer/Director - Richard J. Klassen
- Assistant Director - Ruth Barker
- Production Choreographer - Marilee Schroeder
- DanceWorks Instructors - Maik Kort, Cathy Savage, Tanya Schobert, Brittany Somersall
- DanceWorks TTP - Tristan Klassen
- Costumes - Vanessa Klassen / Sharon Hacault
- Lights - Bailey Zacharias
- Playwrights/Adaption - Christopher Kitchen / Richard J. Klassen
- Sound - Xander Klassen
- Stage Tech - Thomas Cram
- Stage Manager - Ruth Barker
- Stage Assistants - Renee Friesen, Robyn Jones, Gabriella Untereiner-Falk
- Additional Crew - soon to be announced
Pride and Prejudice
Dramatized from Jane Austin's Novel by Jane Kendall
Revue by Freelance Writer Loretta Thorliefson as published in the Western Canadian
Jane Austin's characters might have been viewed with less than enthusiasm by some English students over the years, but such was not the case at the Manitou Opera House on October 29 and 30. The senior division of the Candlewick's Xplor Drama Troupe, under the direction of Richard Klassen, took the audience on a delightful journey into the Nineteenth Century world of the Bennets, a world where propriety and social class reign, and where a young woman's cheif desire and aim is to "marry well" and thus enhance - or at the very least, preserve - her economic standing
Such is the case with the five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, the latter being particularly concerned - well actually hysterical - about the fact that, should her husband's death pre-date the marriage of any of their daughters, the estate would fall into the hands of the pompous Mr. Collins.
Hope arrives in the person of Mr. Bingley who, despite the discouragement ofr his haughty sister, seems mutually attracted to Jane, whose quiet grace seems to belie her mother's genes. In contrast, the high-spirited Elizabeth spurns the advantages of both Collins ans the mysterious Mr. Darcy, fueled by the impression that Darcy sabotaged Mr. Binglay and Jane's relationship. The two younger sisters, Catherine and Lydia brazenly pursue any man with a pulse, with a particular bent towards men in uniform. Sister Mary, the bookworm, dryly analyses the developing drsma, while the arrival of each hero or villain is enthusiastically announced by the butler, Hill.
Much hilarity ensues, as Collins, rebounding like a superball from Elizabeth's rejection, captures the hand of Charlotte Lucas, the daughter of neighbourhood gossip Lady Lucas.
Meanwhile Mr Wickham, a less than honorable officer, has apparently eloped with Lydia, throwing the entire family into an uproar, and causing Mrs. Bennett's pile of drenched handkerchiefs to mount even higher.
The proud Mr. Darcy redeems himself by pursuing the misguided Wickham and planting his feet firmly back on the straight and narrow, simultaneously reuniting Jand and Bingley, despite the prejudice of his Aunt Catherine DeBourgh
This gives him enough points to win Elizabeth's hand on his second attempt.
The beautiful and larger than life sets, built by Richard and Vanessa Klassen and Jason Dyck, the period costumes fashioned by Assistant Director and Stage Manager Ruth Barker, and the intricate hairstyles produced by Laura Greenfield, gave a professional flair to the presentation.
The actors, who hailed from the communities of Manitou, Snowflake, La Riviere, St. Leon, Winkler, Darlingford, Miami, and Pilot Mound, kept the audience engaged with their energy, indepth characterization, and clever sense of timing, while the gales of laughter from the audience might have occasionally shocked even Jane. The actors conducted themselves with a maturity born of years of training and stage experience, as some of the graduating youth can count up to nine years working with the local Youth in Fine Arts program as well as in various school productions. Over the years, they have grown from tree-branch-holding novices to fine leading men and ladies
Presented by Candlewick's Senior Youth Xplor Drama:
Friday, October 29, 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 30, 7:30 PM
Manitou Opera House
Cast Included:
- Mr Bennet - Devon Lea (Manitou)
- Mrs. Bennet - Kelsey Goertzen (Snowflake)
- Jane Bennet - Jacki Peters (Winkler)
- Elizabeth Bennet - Jaclyn Matchullis (Manitou)
- Mary Bennet - Caitlin Unrau (St. Leon)
- Catherine Bennet - Evelyn Domitruk (Darlingford)
- Lydia Bennet - Sidney Riddell (Miami)
- Mr. Collins - Steven Popplestone (Pilot Mound)
- Mr. Bingley - Tristan Klassen (La Riviere)
- Miss Bingley - Sandra Froese (Winkler)
- Mr. Darcy - Skye Thorleifson (Manitou)
- Lady Catherine De Bourgh - Rachel Riddell (Miami)
- Lady Lucas - Rachel Riddell (Miami)
- Charlotte Lucas - Quinne Riddell (Miami)
- Mr. Wickham - Devin Lowry (Darlingford)
- Hill - Liam Klassen (La Riviere)
Crew Included:
- Producer/Director - Richard J. Klassen
- Assistant Director - Ruth Barker
- Costumes - Ruth Barker
- Sets - Richard J. Klassen, Vanessa Klassen, Jason Dyck
- Hair - Laura Greenfield
Performance by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.
