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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE THEATRE ARTS GUILD THE POND PLAYHOUSE 6 PARKHILL RD. HALIFAX NS [email protected] The Reluctant Resurrection of

The Reluctant Resurrection of Sherlock Holmes is a quirky mystery-comedy set in 1896 with amusing and unexpected twists that keep audiences guessing and laughing . World-famous author Sir is summoned to a remote English manor to solve an inexplicable death. Much to Doyle’s chagrin, the ghost of Sherlock Holmes suddenly appears to assist his creator in solving the crime. Using Victorian detective methods and his superb powers of observation and deduction, Sherlock’s ghost goads his creator to rely less on emotions and more on logic to catch the culprit. Canadian playwright David Belke, has crafted a clever who-done-it with an intriguing cast of characters, two love triangles and a wonderful séance. The playful dialogue, expansive characters and intricate situations have been entertaining audiences across Canada and the United States since its premiere in 1992 at the Edmonton Fringe. Tickets on Sale Now!

Buy Your Tickets TAG TICKET PRICES

* At the 23 participating Atlantic Superstore outlets * Charge by Phone at (902) 451-1221 * At the door (subject to availability) * Online at www.ticketatlantic.com ($2 fee per online session) * Ticket Atlantic Box Office

Mailing Address: Theatre Arts Guild 287 Lacewood Drive Unit 103 Suite 412 Halifax N.S. B3M 3Y7

March/April 2012 CONTACT Community Mark Your Notes Calendars!

Spring is upon us, or at least we Dartmouth Players presents Inherit the The Drowsy Chaperone June 21 hope old man winter is finished, Wind. It’s the trial of the century! A young to July 7, 2012 - Join us at the Pond as we get set to complete our school teacher introduces his students Playhouse as the internationally 81st season with The Reluctant to the theory of evolution in defiance of acclaimed and award-winning Resurrection of Sherlock Holmes his small town’s laws, setting off a legal Canadian musical comes to Halifax. and the season musical finale The confrontation that pits science against faith Hold onto your hats becasue you Drowsy Chaperone. and shakes the quiet southern community won’t want to miss this show. Mark Corker, the skilfully portrayed to its core. The show is scheduled to run your calendar today now! Written drama by Wendy Lill was both a April 9 to 28, 2012. Call 465-PLAY or visit by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and directed by Jacqui Good. challenge and rewarding venture www.dartmouthplayers.ns.ca for more for the talented cast and crew. Our information. Sunday matinee audience had an opportunity to enjoy a talk-back Bedford Players presents It’s Murder in discussion with the author and cast the Wings written by Pat Cook and directed Renew Your which proved to be most interesting by Kim Shaw. The editor and staff of the TAG Membership! and enjoyable. A special thanks to Wings Publishing Company valiantly try to $15 Regular Producer Michele Gaudet for her pull off a critical contract-signing party in diligent work to make it all happen. spite of the fact that the boss has just been $25 Family Just before the opening of Corker, murdered. The party, and particularly the $10 Senior (60+) we installed the much awaited as-yet-unsigned contract, are crucial to $10 Student carpet in the lobby. It definitely adds saving the company and cannot be derailed to the decor and makes the theatre by a little thing like murder! The show is Membership benefits include: $3 discount off admission, more comfortable and complete. As scheduled for April 19 to May 5. Call 832- newsletters and invitations we move into the next few shows 3300 or visit www.bedfordplayers.ns.ca to to special members-only events. we hope more and more people will make a reservation. Visit www.tagtheatre.com venture out to our little theatre and Wild Abandon Productions presents for more information. see what all of the buzz is about. More Amore. Join vocalists Stuart ~ Angela Butler, President Hiseler and Karen Myatt as they explore the meaning and mystery of love and Want to Volunteer? The Theatre Arts relationships from their usual irreverent [email protected] and sometimes shocking perspectives. Guild is a registered for more information From Online Dating to Lifelong Marriage Canadian charity and and everything in between (the sheets); is operated entirely old, new and unheard songs interwoven by volunteers. with the actors’ true, moving, and Support TAG Support your shameless love-life stories. It’s another unique cabaret experience, and a Post- Donations to The Theatre Arts community theatre Valentine’s, Apres-Disney and totally Un- Guild may now be made online today. All donations traditional celebration of Amore! Check it using credit cards. Two options are tax deductible. out at The Company House, 2202 Gottingen are provided; both provide Street, March 21-23, 8pm. Tickets are $20. safe and secure options for Visit www.wildabandonproductions.ca for online transactions. Visit www. more info. tagtheatre.com to make your

donation today..A BIG thank you goes out to all of TAG’s generous Email your newsletter supporters! submissions to: [email protected] March/April 2012 CONTACT

AUDITION CALL The Drowsy Chaperone

The Drowsy Chaperone is a gem of a musical that manages to be fresh and original while also being thoroughly nostalgic. Written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, and directed by Jacqui Good, this delectable show will be the icing on the Theatre Arts Guild season, running at the Pond Playhouse from June 21 to July 7, 2012. Audition Dates & Times: Sun. March 18, 2012, 1-4 p.m. Mon. March 19, 2012, 7-9 p.m. Location: Pond Playhouse, 6 Parkhill Rd. (off the Purcell’s Cove Rd.) Cast of Characters Required: Wendy Lill’s Corker (photo above) explored our over- • Man or Woman in Chair burdened social service system and society’s need to help and • Janet Vandergraff, theatre star and bride‐to‐be to learn from those who face great challenges. Audiences were entertained with a play that appealed to both heart and mind • Mrs. Tottendale, hostess and those that attended the matinee had the opportunity to • Drowsy, the chaperone chat with the author and cast. • Kitty, the chorus girl • Trix, the aviatrix • Robert Martin, the groom • George, the best man • Underling, the butler TAG is offering a series of four workshops to give • Feldzieg, the producer volunteers an overview of some of the roles available at • Alphonso, the Latin lover TAG. The workshop topics were chosen by the respondents • Gangster 1 & 2 to our online survey as the top areas that they would like • a few servants and wedding guests to fill out the to learn about. All workshops will be facilitated by Rebecca chorus & choreography Humphreys, who has been volunteering at TAG for over 15 Visit www.tagtheatre.com for a more complete years. You can sign up for one or all of these courses! All description of the characters. workshops are held on Saturday. Performers interested in auditioning are asked • Producing - April 28, 2012, (9 am - 1 pm, 4 hours) to send an email, preferably with a resume, to • Stage Management - May 26, 2012, (9 am - 4 pm, [email protected]. You will then be sent with lunch break, noon to 1:00 pm – 6 hours) an audition time and more information. We would • Lighting - June 23, 2012, (9 am - 4 pm, with lunch like to hear you sing a prepared piece that shows break, noon to 1:00 pm – 6 hours) your vocal range. You will also be given a scene to read. Dance experience is not required, but would • Publicity - July 21, 2012, (9 am - 1 pm - 4 hours) be a great asset. You are advised to take a look at How to Register: some of the free tap lessons available on You Tube. Space is limited so enroll early to reserve your spot. A few simple steps can go a long way. You Tube also Email [email protected] or phone 902-477-2663 has many clips from various productions of The to register or inquire about the workshop series. Please Drowsy Chaperone. If you have questions, please provide your Name, Phone Number, and the course(s) you feel free to contact the director at (902) 492-2686. would like to register for.

March/April 2012 CONTACT FROM PAGE TO STAGE TO SCREEN: VISUALIZING SHERLOCK HOLMES Expanding Your Theatre Vocabulary – the 41st in a continuing series...

There is great excitement...The XYZ version starring William Gillette was and for me, epitomized Television Company has announced playing on Broadway in 1899 (ironically the emotional detachment, the that it is making a new series of written by Doyle, who needed money heightened sensibilities and programmes based on the Sherlock at the time to build a new home) and overarching intelligence of the Doyle Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan a one-reel film Sherlock Homes Baffled creation. Edward Hardwicke, on the Doyle. The actor chosen to play the lead was shown in 1900. The many film other hand, provided the down- is...... There are great hurrahs from versions which followed introduced to-earth honesty, practicality and some quarters...”Oh, he’s exactly how I a notable roster of actors – John sympathy of the family doctor. picture Sherlock Holmes.” There is equal Barrymore, Raymond Massey, Basil And while we’re playing favourites - dismay from other quarters...”Who on Rathbone, and recent David Suchet is for me the embodiment earth recommended him for the part!” Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer. of Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, We have a tendency, as human beings, There is an additional element ruled by his ‘little grey cells.’ Only six to want to put a face to our heroes in visualizing Holmes, since an stories by Christie remain to be filmed (and I should take a moment to clarify appropriate foil has to be found to in the ITV series headed by Suchet matters here). The image that comes play Dr. John Watson. Basil Rathbone and I was heartened recently to learn to mind generally of the detective is and Nigel Bruce worked together that the British television giant will not the creation of Sir Arthur, but of on fourteen films and were thought complete these during 2012. the artist Sidney Paget, hired by the the ideal couple, but the Granada Having mentioned Poirot, I would publisher of the Strand Magazine, the Television series of 1984-1994 gave us be remiss not to mention Christie’s source in which the short stories first Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke other well-known sleuth, Miss Jane appeared. Subsequent recreations on – my particular favourite. The fact Marple. The field here seems to be stage and screen have conformed to that these roles have been attempted ever-widening – Margaret Rutherford the Paget model and actors chosen many times before has not deterred in film versions, and on television, for the role have often been selected modern directors from tackling the Joan Hickson (my favourite), Geraldine for the physical traits first drawn by characters. The current screen pairing McEwan and now Julia McKenzie. him – the thick, dark hair; the lean, of Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law intelligent face; the hooded eyes; the has a following (and still retains There’s a long history and great spare figure; the long fingers on the Victorian as a setting). As expectations here! nervous hands. regards the latest television offering Come and watch from the BBC (carried by PBS in North The Reluctant Even though Conan Doyle often Resurrection of wished otherwise (he had introduced America) – Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock Holmes Holmes in A Study in Scarlet, appearing and Martin Freeman, living in and see if our in Beeton’s Christmas Annual for 1887 present day London – I don’t think v i s u a l i z a t i o n s and killed him off in we’ve seen enough episodes yet to measure up! six years later), the popularity of his form an opinion. I read the Sherlock detective was so great that a stage Holmes canon when quite young ~ Judy Reade

Take Your Seat! Dedicate a Seat for $500 and take A BIG a permanent place in the history of the Pond Playhouse. Your THANK YOU contribution is tax deductible. Visit tagtheatre.com or email to our many patrons [email protected] for and volunteers more information about this No Scents Make exciting fundraiser.! Good Sense

March/April 2012 CONTACT