Seussical Jr. a smashing success
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June 15, 2011 |
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The Swingin'
on a Star production of Seussical Jr.,
the first show at Bonners Ferry's Pearl
Theater, ended a four-night run of
sold-out shows Tuesday night. |
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By Mike Weland
In the years I've lived in Boundary County, not
a day goes by that I'm not impressed by the
stunning array of talent of the people who call
this place home. I was floored, however, by the
talented cast who ended their four-day run of
Seussical Jr. Tuesday evening ... their amazing
talent and energy proved the perfect debut
performance for the new Pearl Theater, which is
still being transformed from what used to be the
Community Fellowship Church.
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Director
Victoria Thompson was presented a beautiful
bouquet prior to the final performance
of Seussical Jr., presented her by the
Birdgirls. |
Prior to the final performance, "The Birdgirls,"
Edie Callison, Myla McKechnie and Sara Owinyo
presented director and choreographer Victoria
Thompson a big boquet of flowers and a balloon
in thanks for all her work, and once the show
began, it was plain to see that her hard work
paid dividends, as every performer shone to
bring to life the magical world of Dr. Seuss.
Liz Wilder's Cat in the Hat sang and performed
her role with elan, capturing the nuance of that
mischevious character, and every performer
filled the buidling to the rafters with their
talent and enthusiasm.
Each of the four performances saw the Pearl
filled to capacity, with kids taking to the
floor right in front of the performers ...
possibly the best seats in the house, even
without seats!
In addition to the Birdgirls and the Cat in the
Hat, Carissa Reed played Gertrude McFuzz, Carl
Svec was an outstanding Horton the Elephant,
Devin Fredericks was JoJo, a Who, Lauren Skye
Palmer was Mayzie La Bird, Gabe Palmer was the
Mayor of Whoville, Emily Fredricks his wife,
Mrs. Mayor of Whoville, Annie Elliston was the
Sour Kangaroo, Duncan McKechnie was Baby Roo,
Jessie McKechnie the Elephant Bird and Matthew
Spreeuw was Vladvladikoff. Michael Youngwirth
was Yertle the Turtle, and the Wickersham
Monkeys were Marta Matthews, Gabe Palmer, Kailey
Palmer, Michael Youngwirth, Matthew Spreeuw and
Lauren Skye Palmer. Joining the jungle animals,
the Citizens of Whoville and the circus people
on the chorus were Ada Bonnell, Nathan Olsen,
Matthew Spreeuw, Steven Svec, Isaac Wilson and
Brooklyn Wilson.
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Liz Wilder,
as the Cat in the Hat, turned in an
amazing performance, singing, dancing
and bringing her character to life. |
In all, these young performers gave their
audience a spectacle not to miss, and from all
the chatter after the show, no one went away
disappointed.
Helping Thompson in production of the
spectacular show were assistant directors Lisa
Palmer, Rona Hall and Holly Robertson, and
everybody, the performers, their parents, the
directors, Mary Matthews, Chinna McKechnie and
Christine and John Callison. Working lights and
sound were Lisa Palmer and Lynn Hayworth.
Special thanks from both cast and crew went out
to Carolyn Testa, owner of the Pearl Theater,
who addressed the audience before the
performance, explained the work planned for the
summer and told of the first "official"
performance scheduled for the by-then remodeled
Pearl,
"An
Electric Romance," directed by Paul Rawlings.
A
casting call for actors, musicians, singers and
dancers at will be held at 5:45 p.m. June 29 at
the Bonners Ferry Visitors Center. and the play
will be presented at the Pearl Theater sometime
in October. To find out more, call Rawlings at
(208) 267-5332.
Special thanks for Seussical Jr. also went out
to Thompson Chiropractic, which underwrote the
production, to Trinity Lutheran Church, where
not only rehearsals for Seussical Jr. took
place, but where Swingin' on a Star, the
award-winning Bonners Ferry Children's Choir,
has practiced and rehearsed for years. The
Bonners Ferry High School Drama and Music
departments and Dave Carpenter also received
thanks for the use of the special lighting and
some of the set.
Victoria Thompson wrote a note of thanks on the
show's program.
"Thanks to so many are in order, for it is
impossible to put on a show like this without a
huge amount of help ... from our assistant
directors Rona, Lisa and Holly, who were there
assisting with everything, to my husband, Jim
Thompson, and friend Jon Bard, who put in an
afternoon hauling platforming, to John Callison,
who spent hours putting legs on platforms and
making them secure, to Edie, Greta and Christine
Callison, who made the nest and egg, to Chinna
McKechnie, who searched out material and made
clover after clover, to Michael Palmer, who
spent hours making our rolling tree, and Mary
Matthews, who stitched up everything we needed,
and Lisa Palmer, who found innumerable costumes
and props, to Carolyn, who tore down a wall and
let us in the Pearl just a day after the church
moved out. This is truly a community event!"
In the best sense of the phrase, she is spot on! |
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