New SOAP member Trevor Leigh (who played the role of temperamental director Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off) brings a wealth of acting and directing experience from more than 25 years in professional theatre. Sign up for his acting classes this winter! Classes for tweens and adults of all levels of acting experience. Contact Trevor for details. 250-999-9396 or ftleigh @ mac.com
Lars Kaario, conductor, singer and educator, has a great love and commitment towards the choral arts. He has a special ability to inspire singers and instrumentalists and effectively communicate the enjoyment and subtleties of music to his audiences. His tremendous energy coupled with his excellent organizational skills and programming abilities have helped to characterize his concerts as “unforgettable, delightful, beautiful, and deeply satisfying musical experiences.”
When he comes on the Venables stage with the Capilano University Singers Friday, February 5th at 7:30 pm we can expect an unforgettable evening of choral music.
Mr. Kaario is an ardent supporter of young musicians and composers and regularly commissions new works. He is the Director of Choral Studies in the music program at Capilano University. He directs both the Capilano University Singers and the Capilano University Festival Chorus. He is also the head instructor in the University’s Conducting Certificate Program.
Lars is founder and director of the acclaimed professional chamber choir, Laudate Singers. Other ensembles he has directed include Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, CBC Orchestra, West Coast Symphony, West Coast Summer Music Festival Orchestra and Chorus, Vancouver Cantata Singers, Greater Vancouver Operatic Society and Theatre Under the Stars. He himself has performed leading roles in opera, light opera and music theatre. In oratorio, he has been tenor soloist in such works as Bach’s B minor Mass , Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Mozart’s Requiem with many of BC’s major choirs and orchestras.
The Oliver and District Heritage Society is proud to announce that they are the recipients of a Documentary Heritage Communities Program grant from Library and Archives Canada. The funding, $10,300, allowed staff to undertake a special four month project which began in late December 2016.
The funding will be used to properly archive and record almost 800 maps and plans that were donated to the Society as part of the South Okanagan Land Irrigation District fonds in 1997. A previous project provided for the proper storage and numbering of each item, this is the next and final step to completing this portion of the fonds. Each map/plan will be properly photographed and have a digital record created within our special artifact management software. These records will make accessing, copying and researching the material much easier.
Please come visit us to see how the project is progressing and learn more about the services of the Oliver Archives.
Photo: Some of the maps and plans that will be a part of this project.
The Women of Oliver for Women announce that entry forms are available for the “Mainly for Women” Trade Show. Download them here, at the bottom of this article, or on their website located here: wowoliver.org
The trade show began in 1993 as a fundraiser for Soroptimist International of Oliver. When that group disbanded in 2003, the Trade Show continued through the work of the WOW Club. Its title “Mainly for Women” reflects their mission statement, with funds raised going to support projects which focus mainly on women and children within our community.
Trade show displays feature everything from beautifully handcrafted jewelry to pottery, wood crafts, fibre art, health products and services, real estate and investments, home improvement, fashion, food, and many more themes. It occurs every February, on the third Saturday of that month. Forty to sixty individual vendors showcase their wares in the Oliver Community Centre. A lunch and snack area is available.
If you would like to be part of the next Trade Show, please download the
and the
Slamming doors and jamming doors. Crashing props. Brandished axes. Bottles of whisky. Dropped trousers and dropped plates of sardines. Prat falls and brawls. Farce is all about noise and sight gags, and SOAP’s upcoming comedy promises to be jam-packed with hilarious action. Noises Off by Michael Frayn runs three evenings, Thursday January 21 to Saturday January 23, at the Frank Venables Theatre, at 7:30 p.m. One matinee, on Saturday January 23 is at 1:00 p.m.
Noises Off takes its title from a stage direction for sounds coming from behind-the-scenes. This backstage farce follows a hapless company of actors as they limp through the final dress rehearsal of an English sex comedy (and play-within-a-play), Nothing On. Muddled lines, collapsing set, love triangles, artistic temperament, and one clueless blonde in lingerie are driving the cast’s bullying director, Lloyd Dallas, to madness. In this case, the “noises off” are the unplanned crashes and screams of the actors as the play-within-a-play slowly disintegrates into chaos.
Lloyd (played by Trevor Leigh) directs a bumbling cast: diva Dotty (Carrie Lyle), tongue-tied Garry (Craig Bjornson), dim-witted Freddy (Nathan Linders), reliable Belinda (Penelope Johnson), alcoholic thespian Selsdon (Michael Ryan) and ditzy ingénue (Robin Stille). Lloyd is aided by his stage managers, love-lorn Poppy (Jen Jensen) and overworked Tim (Brohm Dason).
The audience is treated to three versions of Nothing On (the play-within-a-play). Act 1 immerses the audience in the disastrous dress rehearsal, with director Lloyd shouting last-minute instructions from the seats, and other actors making their arrival onstage from different points in the theatre. After an intermission when the set is revolved, Act 2 reveals a brawling backstage view of their touring performance. Act 3 is the riotous closing night, when all lines are abandoned and cast of Nothing On must improvise their way to the final curtain.
The revolving set, a 16th century millhouse, is as much a character as the cast. Designed and built by Shawn Henderson and Craig Bjornson, the two-storey set revolves twice during each performance, to reveal both the onstage and backstage action. Director Ted Osborne holds the reins on this careening comedy, aided by stage manager Diane Gludovatz. Aimee Grice makes her debut as producer with the help of countless volunteers.
All performances are at the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver, due to the complexity of the set. Noises Off advance tickets are $18 at Sundance Video in Oliver and Your Dollar Store with More in Osoyoos. Tickets at the door are $20. More information at www.soplayers.ca and info @ soplayers.ca
Pictured from top: Brohm Dason, Craig Bjornson, Nathan Linders, Penelope Johnson, Trevor Leigh, Jen Jensen, and Robin Stille collapse through the mill door in SOAP’s Noises Off
If you are a woman who needs to return to school to better your life, the Women of Oliver for Women (WOW) would like to help. The WOW Education Award ( $1000) is presented to a woman who is needing to upgrade her education in order to return to the workplace and support herself and her family. Applications are due by January 31st. An award is presented in March.
Not all applicants will be selected for awards, but you may be eligible if you:
In order for applicants to be fairly judged, forms from two references must be sealed and submitted with each application. Your application will be reviewed by a committee comprised of members of the Women of Oliver for Women organization (WOW), but all information will remain confidential and will not be shared without your prior permission.
You can download an application form and reference forms here:
Visit our website at wowoliver.org for more information about Women of Oliver for Women
Left to right: Janet Montgomery, Michelle Weisheit, Janis Silverfox (2015 recipient of award), Cathy Gushalak and Diane Worth
WOW is a member group of the Oliver Community Arts Council.
Big-hearted theatre-goers put the “Community” in “Community Christmas Concert” on Sunday November 29. The family-friendly variety show packed the Frank Venables Theatre, and overflowed into the lobby. Performers generously donated their talents. Local choristers (the Sage Valley Voices, OES Choir, and Holy Cross School), OES Handbells, and Oliver Dance Studio filled the stage with dazzling sound and movement. Popular performers Ken Repkow and Mikie Spillett, Aimee Grice, and Dawn MacRae, and musicians Lori Martine and Brian Mapplebeck gave with gusto in the spotlight.
This year, the organizer Oliver Community Arts Council received a boost from the Oliver Community Theatre Society, who co-presented the event and provided technical support. Sponsors helped the production keep costs to a minimum: Oliver Daily News, Your Dollar Store with More and The Bargain Shop! Thanks for helping to maximize donations to the local Food Bank.
Patrons responded with generosity, both with donated admissions and food bank goods. Dozens of grocery bags were delivered to the Oliver Food Bank the following day. Proceeds from the concert totalled $695.96, with a cheque for that amount being awarded as well. Pictured, committee members Brian Mapplebeck and Shirley Corley Rourke in Santa hats, pose with food bank volunteers and “the goods”. Thank you to all who donated time, talent, food, and money.
Local dancers, carollers, and bell ringers usher in the season at the Community Christmas Concert on Sunday November 29 at 2:30 p.m. at the Frank Venables Theatre, 6100 Gala Street. The annual musical revue is a family–friendly event with quizzes and prizes to be won throughout the show and goody bags for children at the end of the concert. Admission is by donation, and goods for the Oliver Food Bank are also welcome. The new venue for the concert is made possible through a co-presentation between the Oliver Community Arts Council and the Oliver Community Theatre Society.
The Oliver Dance Studio (pictured above) bound onstage with a spritely opening featuring a young troupe of dancers under the direction of Leah Moen. Next, crowd-pleasers Mikie Spillett and Ken Repkow return. They are sure to delight the audience with their country-rock carols. Several choirs give a sneak preview of their December programmes: the Sage Valley Voices (pictured left), the Oliver Elementary School Chorus, and the Holy Cross School Choir will each tantalize with a few selections. A flute and clarinet duo, Lori Martine and Brian Mapplebeck, will set a wintery mood with pure crystal tones. Also chiming in the season will be the Oliver Elementary Handbells Team. Two local songstresses with powerful pipes, Aimee Grice and Dawn MacRae, will each perform some seasonal numbers. Winding up the afternoon will be more little lords leaping and little ladies dancing to send the audience on its merry way.
Between sets, MC Penelope Johnson will keep the audience guessing with festive-themed quizzes from holiday traditions around the world, to winter activities, to knowledge of seasonal songs and carols. Who knows, perhaps prizes will also be awarded for high-spirited folks who dress in seasonal costume and colours! Prizes have been generously donated by Your Dollar Store with More and include two larger gift certificates in addition to the small prizes awarded. Goody bags have been provided by The Bargain Shop and members of the Oliver Community Arts Council. Sponsored in part by Oliver Daily News — visit them here!
Many thanks to Brian Mapplebeck, program organizer and stage manager, to Tom Szalay and Nathan Linders on sound and lights, to stage crew Diane Gludovatz, Terry and Janice Goodman, greeters Shirley Corley-Rourke and Brita Park, the Oliver Ambassadors, and the Oliver Community Theatre Society.
Three years ago the Daniel Gervais Trio performed here and anyone at that concert will be rushing back for more. High spirits and fun are guaranteed when the trio hits the Venables Theatre stage Friday, December 4th, at 7:30 pm. Daniel is Canada’s Grand Master Fiddle Champion and he is joined by guitarist Clinton Pelletier and Keith Rempel on Bass for a eclectic and entertaining mix of jazz, classical, bluegrass, country, old time, ragtime and Celtic music. Three years ago they had the South Okanagan Concert Society audience on their feet clamoring for more. Full command of the music combined with spontaniety and high energy appeals to all ages and musical tastes. Daniel is also a master at engaging everyone prior to each piece with fascinating bits of history of the genres and styles.
Flex tickets are on sale at Beyond Bliss in Oliver, Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos and at the door. The four admission pass is entirely flexible and admissions can be used together or in any combination. Single admissions are $20 and those 17 and under are welcome to attend concerts free. The venue is wheelchair accessible and those in the Oliver/Osoyoos area requiring transportation can call Maureen at 250 495 7978.
Daniel’s ability as a classical violinist was broadly recognized in 2002 when he attained the highest mark in Canada from the Royal Conservatory for his Gr. 8 Strings exam. A little older now, he has a Masters degree in Music and an active portfolio of performance, recording and teaching. His talents are not one dimensional. He moves from traditional fiddle music to classical violin and to entertaining, story telling and composing. He has toured North America and France.
Clint Pelletier (pictured left) is and outstanding free lance guitarist not content with just playing chords in the background. He has the skills to put the guitar on an even footing with the violin and together with Daniel their Gypsy Jazz explorations are reminisent of Belgian guitar virtuoso, Django Rheinhardt and French violinist Stephane Grappelli. Clint has initiated several bands, released many recordings, and is tracing his French Canadian roots through stories and music.
Perhaps the most amazing musician in the trio is Keith Rempel, a professional electric and upright bassist, currently residing in Edmonton. Blind since birth, Keith has never seen the notes on a sheet of music. He is a graduate from the Grant MacEwan College of Music and is known for his perfect pitch and talent with vocal harmonies. He says, “In one way, blindness can be an advantage because I have to pick things up by hearing it and then memorize it. When you know something from memory, you perform a lot better.” Indeed. This is exactly what he does!
Chase the winter blues and come out Friday, Dec. 4th, for an evening of lively upbeat music. The Daniel Gervais Trio, devoted to excellence, loves what they do best. It shows and the feeling is contagious!
