Community Theatre is alive and well in Saskatchewan with Yorkton theatre group, Paper Bag Players, travelling to the other side of the province to attend TheatreFest 2014 in Swift Current. The festival is hosted by Theatre Saskatchewan Inc.(TSI) and is Canada's longest running theatre festival with this year marking their 80th anniversary. Yorkton has had the honour of hosting the festival in past years, most recently 2012.
This year's showcase of community theatres included Swift Current Little Theatre, That Kritical stage from Kyle, Moose Jaw Little Theatre, Battleford's Community Players and Melfort Amateur Dramatics. Each group had a full day to set up and rehearse before the evening's performance, which was followed by a short public adjudication.
The following morning, adjudicator Gail Whiteford, gave a more in-depth analysis of the previous evening's performance. Whiteford is presently teaching Drama Education at University of Calgary and is the Artistic Director of Aspen Crossing Theatre. She has been writing, acting in, and directing plays for over 25 years, for schools and theatre companies.
Community theatre groups were able to benefit from the adjudication process, along with other theatre related workshops such as "The Symphony of Social Media" and "Lighting in the Real World". However, the greatest learning experience of the week comes through the Apprentice Program where as many as 16 individuals from TSI Member groups attend all performances, adjudications and apprentice workshops. Pamela Milani of Paper Bag Players participated as an apprentice in this year's TheatreFest. Milani says "It's a fantastic learning experience for anyone wanting to learn more about all facets of theatre."
Paper Bag Players entry into TheatreFest was 'The Drowning Girls' by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson, and Daniela Vlaskalic. The play, based on a true crime from the early 1900s, follows the path of three women whose lives were cut short at the hands of George Joseph Smith. Directed by Tamara Hall, the play features three women, Bessie Mundy played by Pamela Milani, Alice Burnham played by Sarah Christie, and Margaret Elizabeth Lofty played by Glorianne Kada, who tell their tragic story through various character's eyes. A play truly about the struggle for love, loss and life.
The festival's Friday night performance of the Drowning Girls, earned four awards. Glorianne Kada's portrayal of Margaret Elizabeth Lofty won her the McIntyre Trophy for Best Characterization. The Margaret Corbett Aspirant Award for Novice Participant went to Sarah Christie for her first time on the stage. The play also earned the CHAB trophy for Runner Up to the Winning Entry and the Stan Danbrook Technical Merit Award. The Technical Merit award is given based on the backstage setup and technical performance by the cast and crew, which included Stage Manager, Marilyn Kuntz, Whitney Treasure on lights, sound by Teresa Weber and set construction by Brenda McMillan.
Paper Bag Players will be giving an encore performance of this award winning play at the Sacred Heart Theatre, Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.
