ARTS & CULTURE
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Discovering the true meaning of Christmas FRANCIS RACINE francis.racine@eap.on.ca
MORRISBURG | The Playhouse’s newest play, Lights, camera … Christmas , o!ers audiences of all ages a ring-side seat to witness the ‘behind the scenes’ ups and downs of producing a 70’s TV Variety Christmas Show. The new holiday family show by Jesse Collins, runs until Decem- ber 14 and takes audience members back to the days of good old-fashioned variety entertainment, when everyone gathered around the TV set to watch the traditional Christmas Specials. The play is complete with the comedy, song and dance numbers and traditional seasonal music that made them so popular. It plunges audiences into the "ctional world of singing star GordieRoberts andhis troupe of actors, singers and dancers. There’s trou- ble on the set and Gordie’s world is falling apart. The Network corporations are threat- ening to cancel his show if he doesn’t come up with new material that re#ects the new Disco rage. But he’s reluctant to change and his days as a TV director appear to be over.
On top of that, his wacky troupe is also pressuring him to create new routines, there’s revolt brewing within the ranks and his girlfriend, Marilyn, is feeling neglect- ed and threatens to leave. It all plays out through the eyes of good old Uncle Charlie, as the cast and crew "ght against the clock to nail down their song, dance and comedy numbers before show-time. Lights, camera … Christmas is directed by Jesse Collins, an Emmy Award nominated director for the PSB series Zoboomafoo, and choreographed by Liz Gilroy, director and choreographer of the Toronto produc- tion of Rob Ford, The Musical . The show stars Derek Marshall as Gordie Roberts, with Liz Gilroy, Brian Young, Zach Counsil, Du! Mac- Donald, Geo!rey Tyler, Rod Campbell and Miranda MacDonald. Meredith Zwicker is musical director and Sean Free, set design- er. Alex Amini is costume designer.
Liz Gilroy and Derek Marshall
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