 |
 The
MCT Orléans production of The Snow Queen featured
Taylor Smith as Gerda and Jenna Stevenson as the Old
Robber Woman. Photo courtesy of Kimberly McRae |
The
Missoula Children's Theatre traveling road show made its annual
stopover in Orléans last week to stage a production of The
Snow Queen at the Shenkman Arts Centre with the help of
60 young actors from the local community.
The
Missoula Children's Theatre company is based in Montana.
Every year they send out more than 40 teams of directors
and instructors to stage children's productions across North
America including Orléans where they have been coming for
more than 20 years.
The
entire production takes less than a week to stage, starting
with auditions on the Monday and culminating with a pair
of performances six days later.
More
than 80 children between the ages of five and 17 showed
up for auditions this year, making the task of selecting
the 60 member cast extremely difficult. The younger cast
members were given the supporting roles of Snow Chickens
and woodland animals, while the older kids were given the
lead roles or assigned to the chorus.
Scripts
were handed out to the successful cast members immediately
after the auditions and rehearsals began after school the
following day.
The
Snow Queen is based on Danish fairytale about a girl
named Gerda whose friend Kay has been placed under a spell
by the Snow Queen and taken to her icy palace.
Determined
to find her friend, Gerda embarks on a quest that takes
her to strange lands where she meets a variety of characters
including a group of robbers led by the Old Robber Woman
and the Little Robber Girl; a Finnish gardener who tries
to place Gerda under her own spell; and a pair of crows
who help her find the palace where Kay is being held captive.
Gerda eventually frees her friend when her tears melt the
palace and break the spell.
The
Missoula production was a wonderful experience for the young
cast who had to learn their parts in less than a week with
the help of their Missoula instructors Justin Kline and
Daniel Boughton who did double duty as the director and
the narrator respectively.
As
for the play itself, considering the shortened time frame
they were working under, it was surprisingly entertaining.
The young cast members were adorable as the Snow Chickens,
as were the snow animals and the team of robbers.
My
favourite were the hobgoblins who had to double as trees,
a river, a bridge and a castle throughout the play.
The
lead role of Gerda was given to local children's theatre
veteran Taylor Smith who was her wonderfully talented self.
Kay was played by Tyson Grant and the part of the Snow Queen
was played by Miriam Pereira.
The
rest of the lead roles were played by Aidan Scheiman, Jenna
Stevenson, Zoe Tessier, Eden Baker, Anick Williams, Zachary
Everett, Olivia Paul, Aydriad Martin, William Baker and
Cadence Everett.
To
find out more about future Missoula productions e-mail mcto@gmail.com.
MILLENNIUM PARK BBQ hosted by Orléans South-Navan councillor Catherine Kitts and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe from 1-3 p.m. with live music and entertainment by children’s performers Monkey Rock Music, a free BBQ, and tons of family fun.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 6:30 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company. Exercise your grey matter before it turns to mush over the holidays. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to info@straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
ORLÉANS FARMERS’ MARKET from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Orléans Town Centre Plaza, 290 Centrum Blvd. Browse 130+ local vendors, grab a bite, and discover amazing handmade and local finds. Plenty of parking available.
CUMBERLAND FARMERS’ MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with a variety of local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION 
THE NAVAN FAIR returns to the Navan Fair Grounds after a three year hiatus. Plenty to see and do including a demolition derby, midway, livestock shows, the Ultimutts Dog and Cat Stunt Show, the Rock the Arts Puppet Show, tractor and truck pulls, musket demonstrations and live entertainment under the domes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night as well as Sunday afternoon. For a complete schedule visit 
CORN ROAST AND BBQ hosted by Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde and MPP Stephen Blais near the nature centre close to the northwest corner of Petrie Island. Hot dogs, corn and refreshments with live entertainment.
