It’s not almost like being in love… I’m in love!

I was at opening night of “Brigadoon” part of the “Music Stand” series at Kelowna Actors Studio.What is a “Music Stand” Series? Here is how is is defined by KAS:

“…A concert style performance dedicated to presenting classic musicals ‘on book’ with script in hand… performers will engage the audience in an evening of unforgettable vocals and hysterical scenes…”

(A side note, if I could sing I would TOTALLY audition for a Music Stand Performance! No panic about memorizing lines!)

It was a wonderful performance! Fun to watch and such a great showcase for the talent at Kelowna Actors Studio! Randy Leslie as always was pure delight in the role of Tommy Albright and I was equally impressed with Troy Berg who played his New York friend Jeff Douglas. Brigadoon is best known for being a perfect musical for the hopeless romantic those two had me laughing hard enough for tears to be rolling down my cheeks.

The only downside of the evenings performance was the mastering of a scottish brogue. I am pretty sure a couple of the Scottish villagers had German, Italian and Greek descent.

The leading ladies were also wonderfully cast. While Arlene Irwin played a perfect older sister and star crossed lover as Fiona Maclaren, Charissa Seutter was as equally lovely as a bride to be and younger sister. The lady who did bring down the house with her performance of “The love of my life” and “My Mother’s Wedding Day” was Gillian Reed. To paraphrase my husband.. “the girl that played the town whore was great!”

Part of the nights celebrations was the completed renovations! WOW. The room feels bigger and does seat more people, it is now is a combination of both “row” seats and tables with nary a bad seat in the house! No twisting at tables anymore with all seats facing the stage and to paraphrase my husband once again “… it felt like a big city theatre and the seats are really comfortable..”

How about dinner? Seriously.. the BEST meal I have ever had at Kelowna Actors Theatre. Perhaps one of the smartest moves they have made was adding Chef Neil Schroeter of Okanagan Street Food to their roster of local stars!

The Chilled gazpacho soup with ginger poached prawns was perfection, I had the Lemongrass steeped salmon as my entree and I can not express how sensational it was, my husband had the beef wellington which he is now determined he will make at home. (heaven help us) Our dessert was the peaches and creme brulle was a nice finish. Dinner alone is worth the ticket price, the show makes it an unforgettable experience that has been missing in the Okanagan.

KAS has also added plated table service, so no more balancing a plate in a buffet line and they have also expanded the wine list to include a wonderful selection of both red’s and white’s!

My only complaint about the renovations is that with a full kitchen putting out that amazing food they need to figure out how to keep the temperature in the building more comfortable, it was very warm.

Your night at Kelowna Actors Studio will include some other surprises, but I will leave those for you to discover.

Brigadoon only runs till Sunday, so if you need some last minute plans for a wonderful night out, this is it.

Really. That’s JUST COOL! Holiday Hurray!

 

Holiday Hurray

Day 21

 

Gifts are the hardest to buy in the last couple of days before Christmas … for the people you want to make the best impression on!

The trend that seems to be the most appreciative these days is “experience” gifts. A trip on a hot air balloon, gift certificates for dinner and a movie or maybe a pottery class or better yet a trip to a far away place! That far away place might live in someones imagination or on a stage in town.

Cue Kelowna Actors Studio!

They have had an amazing run this season, really every season is good but somehow they seem to have risen the bar again!

Why not get someone a gift card for Kelowna Actors Studio? They can use it for classes, shows or even at the bar at the show!

This is one of those gifts that might just become a tradition for you to give year after year, which means next year at crunch time you won’t be in a twist about what to do!

 

Kelowna Actors Studio

 

This is just FUN!!

Yup.. those would be “The Grinch that Stole Christmas” Chucks.

You might not have them this Christmas but they are on sale and you will be SO excited to put them on next year!!

Check them out here

Harvey – Review!

Harvey
Directed by Randy Leslie
Written by Mary Chase

Kelowna Actors Studio
October 7 – October 31st
Thursday – Sunday evenings with a Saturday Matinee
Tickets at the Ellis Box Office or online www.kelownaactorsstudio.com

Everyone needs a pooka!

I remember the first time I stumbled upon the movie “Harvey” starring Jimmy Stewart. It was on late, really late, and I think I was trying to finish a school project. I seem to recall wishing I had my own giant rabbit that might possess some academic skills that I did not. The first time I watched the movie it was out of the corner of my eye, it was that way the next couple of times I saw it as well.. either late at night as I was trying to avoid something else, or down with a cold. Even distracted you pick up on the lessons in the movie, so clear, so simple, so worth being taught time and time again!

What are those lessons? Well go see the play at Kelowna Actors Studio if you haven’t seen the movie and find out for yourself. It is totally worth it!

First off a couple highlights in the cast for me, Sarah McCall as Myrtle Mae did a wonderful job! (as a side note she also had great hair) If you are a regular at KAS you have seen Sarah in many roles, but I have to say that I think this one is my favourite. I’m not sure exactly what it is but she seems more comfortable on stage every time I see her and seems to be expanding her repertoire of characters she is comfortable with.

Semaj Gnol as Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet had me howling and also strangely enough reminded me of my Great Aunt Martha, but I don’t think Martha’s feet were quite as large. The scene that has Ethel cleaning between her toes was priceless!

Dorothy Dalba nailed the campy humor that was asked of her as Nurse Kelly. I am always impressed when timing is nailed so well on opening night and is only going to get better as the run continues.

Of course one man had very big shoes to fill and that was Ray Mordon as Elwood P. Dowd. Fill them he did. I stopped comparing him to Jimmy Stewart early in the play and enjoy his ease on stage and completely believable performance.

I agree with Director Randy Leslie notes when he says the world needs more “Harvey’s” and “Elwood’s!” I will be watching lamp posts for a Harvey to hop into my life.

This is a wonderful play, and I encourage you to get your tickets soon, because it will surely sell out as word travels of the wonderful job done by Kelowna Actors Studio yet again!