ARTS ,__ ENT GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD"' WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2004"' PAGE 81 Scrooge on Scrooge By SUSAN LUNDY man Family Production of Ebenezer Scrooge tells it Staff Writer Scrooge, which "has been like it is, bah humbugging Bah. Humbug. A Salt an island musical Christmas about the stage, shutting Spring Christmas tradi­ tradition since 1971." down Christmas carollers, tion. Bah. Forced out of the Bah. Well. It's hard not to and keeping a tight hold on house, into the cold car and like Virginia. his purse. (Bet he didn't have all the way to ArtSpring. In Now fellow co-direc­ to pay for the show.) the rain. tor Sue Newman is singing Soon he's heading home Singing, I suppose, and and dancing as the Christ­ and tucking himself into theatrics. Sparkly costumes mas Fairy with glitter on the bed. I catch myself smil­ waltzing around the stage. heels of her shoes, and an ing as Vaughn Fulford wails Cherub children. Floor-to­ emerald dress to die for. (I and moans in good Christ­ ceiling Christmas tree all want that dress but it can't be mas form, playing the part of glittery with oh-so-happy­ worth the price.) Marley's Ghost. (I can relate looking gifts underneath The prologue children to the chains on his ankles it. And ArtSpring dressed sing and flit about the stage - that's how I feel walking tinkle and twinkle for the and soon all of ArtSpring is through a mall in December.) Now here's something dif­ season. Bah. filled with Dickens charac­ ON STAGE: Gail Bryn-Jones and Martin Thorn dance at Christmas With Scrooge's ferent: Shilo Zylbergold also Marv up in the light room ters, clowning and violining seems to be in the wrong Fezziwig ball, playing the part of guests Nathaniel and Georgina Brathwaites. and Richard on the door. and puppeteering. Photos by Derrick Lundy play as the Ghost of Hanu­ Then Eric with his whiskers Two actors get complete­ kah Past. The Newmans are and Patrick with his scarf. ly messed up and discover really messed up this year. Spotty dogs moping about they're in the wrong Dick­ But! Here's Sarah Penhale, the stage. And applause and ens play - that makes me back on track as the Ghost of singing and happy kids in laugh! - and finally we Christmas Past. She's quite the aisles. get to the heart of the mat­ charming, I think reluctant­ Not to mention the ter as Patrick Cassidy's Bob ly: good stage presence, nice expense! Cratchit arrives at the office singing (cool dress). Bah. So here I am, centre audi- . and moans to a shedding dog Humbug. I'm getting soft. ence waiting, waiting, wait­ about the need for some time Oh dear. Here's comes Arlo ing for the first bit of Christ­ off work at Christmas. Bryn-Thorn as Boy Scrooge; mas cheer to wash over all (Well, we'd all like that he's singing a crystal-precise these happy Christmas With wouldn't we ... but reviews rendition of Silent Night and Scrooge-goers. Sure enough, still have to be written.) he sounds like an angel. I someone behind me is hum­ Samuel Bentley gives a know Arlo; he 's not an angel. ming a Christmas ditty. And season-appropriate growl Still, I get tears in my eyes the kids are all rosy-cheeked as the office dog and I'm on that high note and I swear my Christmas heart grows At right, Lilith Bentley is the and sparkly-eyed. pleased enough to feel like spotty dog trainer, while two sizes. (Oops, now I'm in Now the lights dim and tossing him a bone. (A very the wrong show.) above, Eric Booth as Scrooge here comes co-director Vir­ small bone, mind you.) confronts his past. ginia to introduce the New- Finally, Eric Booth's SCROOGE 82 L""'n ..d ~k.'ll II- (.af~ '(;i. *N'w Yfar's BMU r;; ATapas [xtravaganza * 8r~giolis of th~ world -8(OUrs~s! ~ Thailand Morocco India ~ Japan Italy francf (aribbfan and of coursf Salt Sprinq Island Ch~fs K~vin Snook &Marcia H~w~tt-Hicks * 7:30pm - 10:30 pm ·· ** $6S p~r p~rson ind. tax (ornplirn~ntary w~lmrn~ drink &champagn~ at midnight Great SO% Gift Ideas Dinn~r r~s~rvation Regular retail by only price on ""' Electronics, Christmas We have it all candles, toys, ~37-4491 or ~37-Z81Z decorations, just in time health & beauty, boxed cards. picture frames, and selected for your special and much more. Christmas I0:30 on .... Dan(~ your way into th~ N[W YL\R .t1 New Year's lbty In todagJ inventory. celebration! A with Soul Shak@down .t1 Happy New Year! f~aturing Paul Branscomb~, Dav~ Roland &[ric Donn~llt .t1 NO £0VIR £UAR6( .t1 II B2 .o. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 22, 2004 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GULF ISLANDSDRIFlWOOD Comfort quilt support urged Salt Spring's Darin Craig whose members he did not can be ordered by phone at knows how it feels to live know, before a similar Salt 538-1996 or through www. with a life-threatening ill­ Spring group was formed. cottagequiltingonline.com.) ness. He's also learned that Island Comfort Quilts Stitches Quilt Shop, an an unexpected gift and act of (ICQ) is now ready to make original sponsor, will give kindness can turn around a quilts for islanders with a 50 per cent off fabric pur­ lousy day. life-threatening illness or chased and left at the store Craig, who has an inop­ serious injury, and is gather­ for ICQ. erable brain tumour diag­ ing donated fabric and funds People also have the nosed a few years ago, said to purchase materials needed option of making a donation he always tries to maintain a for a giant quilting bee set in someone else's name, with positive attitude, but once in for March 12, 2005. a card provided to acknowl­ a while he lets it lapse. ICQ members have been edge the gift - ideal for the "This [quilt] just happened pleased with islanders' sup­ Christmas season or birth­ to come in the mail on one port to date. days. of the rare occasions when I "The response has been Any colour of embroidery was feeling pretty down," he wonderful," said Carol thread or small yarns is also said, pulling a handmade cot­ Simpson. needed, along with cash to ton quilt from a plastic bag. The group has box #120 buy basic quilting materials. "I actually had tears in in the GVM save-a-tape For more information on my eyes and my whole day program, and the Thrifty how to help, call Simpson at changed. It was a fantastic community chest number is 653-2000 or Marguerite Lee MUSIC: Salt Spring Ele­ feeling to know there are #108. at 537-5302. mentary School students people out there who actual­ Curves has stepped up to "I think they need some ly give a damn about what's act as another fabric col­ support and we should try to sing and play the recorder going on beyond their own lection depot, and Cottage give it to them," said Craig. as one of the acts at Island houses." Quilting has agreed to dis­ "They're doing a wonderful Savings Credit Union last Craig's quilt came from count fabric purchased for thing. The people involved week. Photo by Derrick Lundy an off-island organization, ICQ to $10 per metre. (It really have their heart in it." SCROOGE: Trying hard to stay cranky From Page 81 Last Minute Gifts, Stocking Stuffers, Old Ebenezer is having and Lulu Fulford-Gilson) about everyone I know files Now here comes the Flowers, Plants similar heart problems and sing and dance and bicker (I on stage to join the party; I Cratchit family. Old Ebenzer the two of us are going to like the bickering) in front of remind myself that Christ­ and I are going to have to Flowers & Wine have have to stuff our tickers into their Fezziwig parents (Mur­ mas parties are very costly work hard at staying cranky. a great selection for everyone. a vice to get through the Fez­ ray Shoolbraid and Patsy and not THAT much fun. Oh no! Arlo's back as a ziwig ball without a beat of Siemens). Marv has come down Cratchit child and James Don't miss out! Christmas cheer. Now Martin Thorn and from the lighting booth and, Twaites is really cute as Tiny (Speaking of cheer, I could Gail Bryn-Jones are kick­ although the lights don't Tim. Jtflofurrs & ~in£ do with a little of whatever ing up their heels; Vaughn have the same magic with­ Look at Lilith Bentley's Pat O'Neill's Mrs. Thigsber­ is back, trilling with Patrice out him, he's creating lots of smile - it could melt a 160 Fulford Ganges Rd. ry is serving up. Maybe a lit­ Bowler (yes, yes, she sings mystery on stage; Roger Gil­ Scrooge heart - and Hal­ 537-2231 tle shortbread on the side?) beautifully); and Keith bert is blowing on bagpipes, ley's got great stage pres­ hi Oh man! More rich, sat­ MacHattie is playing the Sue Newman is hitting some ence. Quadra Boyle and iny dresses to die for as the violin. spectacular notes, and spotty Zoe Bentley have joined in Q.;~ Fezziwig daughters (Halley Suddenly, the doors to Art­ dogs are leaping through a the singing with mom, Jane ~~ Fulford-Gilson, Thea Stone Spring fling open, and just hoop.