Disaster Area

English Pantomime in Federal Way

I just happened to be talking with a friend at work on Friday and he mentioned that his son was playing guitar in the band for an English pantomime in a local theater. English panto is an odd sort of thing, but funny as heck and, when well done, very entertaining. Great for kids, too.

So I checked into tickets and Bonnie and I were able to go today. We were going to the 2 pm matinee, but we got a call from the theater to say their power went out, so we ended up at the 7 pm evening performance.

The story this year was Sleeping Beauty, featuring Bon's favorite princess, Aurora.

Bottom line - it was excellent.

Sadly, there are only two perormances left for which tickets are available - Sunday and Wednesday nights. So, if you're at a loose end, I highly recommend going.

Remember My Name...

For the last week I've been back in the US for a flying visit - just to catch up with friends, take in a ballet, a play and last night, a high school musical (no, not the High School Musical) - Fame, at Kentridge High School. It's a joint production by Kentridge and Kent Meridian high schools and will run for a weekend at each school. The idea is a very commendable one - to jump start the KM drama program again.

Last night was a VIP Preview night - invite a lot of local dignitaries for a sneak preview, feed them dessert , with a view to raise the profile of high school theater in the community. I would say it was very successful at that, and not hurt by the fact that the show is quite marvelous. With about ten lead characters and a full cast of around eighty, it's quite an undertaking. Tickets are $8 and $10 and can be ordered here:

Order tickets

If you're within striking distance of the south side of Seattle, it's well worth a trip out.

Let The Play Begin!

Well, a week ago we started work on this year's St James Players play. This year's selection is Get Bill Shakespeare Off The Stage, a light hearted comedy set in a current day high school. Here's a review of a current school production to give you a taste.

"Rebellious high school students, insecure teenagers, pushy parents and a challenging drama teacher set the stage for a good mix of comical and endearing moments.

The play revolves around a new high school drama teacher, Miss Caldwell, who takes the place of a retired teacher who was well-loved by his students but apparently too relaxed.

The former drama teacher always allowed his students to pick the play they wanted to pursue, usually being a comedy or musical. Miss Caldwell steps in, and to her students’ dismay, presents them with their new project — a series of Shakespeare’s plays — where she hopes they will “shake hands with Shakespeare.”

The students, horrified with the idea, rebel as teenagers often do. They plan to teach Caldwell a lesson, but in fact, end up with a greater appreciation for Shakespearean plays and a new perspective toward their teacher. The class also allows Caldwell to understand her students and herself better."

The cast is mostly teenagers, with a handful of adults thrown in to flesh out the side plots (except for the new teacher, of course, who is somewhat pivotal to the entire play.) I get to play the school basketball coach, who is smitten by the new teacher and flirts with her and so on. Ah, typecast, I know. There's only one kissing scene, and it's really quite sweet.

Eight weeks to go, opening night is Friday November 10th, with performances also on the 11th, 17th and 18th.

What I really love about this is the chance to work with a very talented bunch of youth from our crc youth group, and the fact that this is a very community friendly outreach effortt'sreallycol that we have the people with te talent to put it together - as well as draw talents out of other people that they never knew they had.