On a dark, moody and dimly lit stage an ethereal body emerges from the mist. The masked entity and a beautiful woman ply dark waters in a mysterious craft…
No, no, wait a second – that’s Karen Minish’s other pet project of the moment.
While Minish is performing a cameo as deposed diva Carlotta in Cowtown Opera Company’s Phantom of the Opera Singalong, her more immediate concern is that of staging the Bow Valley Chorus mini-musical Variety Night! at Cornerstone Theatre in Canmore, March 16-17.
And whereas Phantom is dark and moody, Oliver! With a Twist! is definitely not, said creator and director Minish.
“There will be an element of wacky. And I don’t care if it doesn’t make sense, it’s funny. And there will be twists, people will have to switch gears here with quick character changes.”
Joining Minish in Oliver! will be hubby and Bow Valley Chorus music director John Goulart, Heather Klassen on piano, the BVC Cheerios cheerleading squad and many others.
“I’ve got my ‘rocks,’” said Minish, “some people who have been working on the mini musicals for 12 years. And this time we have a couple of Pine Tree Players with us. Doon Wilkins will be Mr. Bumble.
“And, of course, we’ll have regulars like Lee Post, Barb Shellian and Joan Voyce.”
And to keep things interesting, as well as offer something for everyone, storyteller Mandi Kujawa will offer a new work.
“Storytelling is an interesting art form that people aren’t privy to much anymore,” said Minish. “It’s keeping alive a very old art form and Mandi will have a brand new piece that I haven’t even seen yet.
“As well, Marion Walsh, a singer/songwriter who moved to the valley from Vancouver, will perform some originals. She’s a member of our choir and it just shows that there are all these pockets of talent in the Valley.”
As well, the Bow Valley Choir will offer up some teasers it is readying for the upcoming spring concert at The Banff Centre’s Margaret Greenham Theatre, May 5 and at the Rosza Centre at the University of Calgary, May 12.
This year, the choir will perform Welsh composer Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace. The Armed Man was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England and dedicated to victims of the Kosovo crisis.
“Variety Nights support the greater work of the choir and give the choir a chance to shine in other ways; to strut their stuff on their own and have some fun.”
Fund raising by the BVC Cheerios is an important aspect of the event, said Minish, “because it helps with our Friends campaign. All donations to Friends are matched by the Government of Alberta through its Community Spirit granting program.
“But the main thing is that people can sit back, relax, sip a beverage in a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone should come prepared to relax and have some fun.”
Oliver! with a Twist! runs March 16 at 7:30 p.m. and March 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at Stratton’s Jewellery in Banff, Café Books in Canmore and at the door.
