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fo e u s North Vancouver Community Players 1992/93 Season Hendry Hall To October 10 How the Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckboum October 30-November 14 The Killing of Sister George by Frank Marcus December 4-20 Scroogie: The Musical (Part 5 of the Trilogy) Please call the box office at 983-2633 for tickets and information. North Vancouver Community Players Live Up to their Name By Ann Macklem A feu months ago. the North Vancouver Community Players celebrated their 40th anniversary with a garden tea party-- replete with wandering minstrels and people in full costume---a cabaret and two productions at Hendry Hall. In actual fact, the group has been around even longer than that, having mounted a few productions before legally incorporating in 1952. Had their calculations been based on the date of the group's inception, they would have been celebrating their 45th anniversary. In either case, this is an incredible accomplishment, especially considering how young North Vancouver itself is. The community aspect of the Players is manifest in a variety of ways. First, they are an amateur theatre group, as opposed to a professional one, which means that anyone who takes part does so on a volunteer basis. While some of their members also act professionally, most have careers in entirely unrelated areas. One production, for instance, brought together a mining engineer, a truck driver, a construction worker and a carpet-layer! Such a highly eclectic group of people certainly makes for an interesting mix of Llewellyn, vice-president of the Players and one of a few second-generation members, recalls one of the first meetings he attended: "It was just so bizarre, people were standing up and insulting each other, others were reciting poetry and singing. It was very, very entertaining, lots of fun and laughter." The community spirit was so compelling that he decided to join. Indeed, the Players function as a kind of extended family for many of its 200 members. 80 /r of whom come from North Vancouver. Everyone and anyone can get involved--as President Dave Mcintosh puts it, the Players "aren't just for eccentric people who want to make fools of themselves on stage." Members can choose between taking tickets or operating the stand, doing set design, r make-up. or even compiling scrapbooks (at last count, these comprised a stack at least 2 feet high!). c Fom In Tmx crs was mounted on two separate occasions at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, a 275-seat venue. (Hendi Hall, the Players' regular home, holds 80. The productions enjoyed full houses for both 3-week runs. T o sell out the V E C C is one thing, but for an amateur group to do so--and to do so over a long stretch--is highly exceptional. The Players have amassed quite a reputation over the years. A full eighty percent of their seats are sold by way of subscriptions before their season even gets underway. Their more popular shows typically operate at 9 5 r capacity. The Players have also enjoyed tremendous success at the B . C . Festival, winning in three of the last seven years, most recently with Home, which played at Mainstage 92. f The value of the Players can also be measured in terms of what they give back to the community. If there are any profits left at year's end. they are donated to a charity. And. as Dave Mcintosh points Spirals is a coffee house and art important tftat features live art ever night of the week, as well as monthly art exhibitions. ~ Monday ~ "Monday House" performs jazz/pop fusion - Tuesday Sean Carle sings songs of a rebellious heart ~ Wednesday Poets night wilhAl Hants - Thursday ~ Theatre Sports featuring "Snakes and Ladders " - Friday & Saturday ~ The best of singer/songwriters - Sunday Singer/songwriter showcase To audition or to show your work, phone Ian Stabler at 984-8030 Open Warn - 2am (ornot) 15 Lonsdale 984-8030 out, "we have an obligation to go out and reach the community and bring theatre to them." A program is just being put into place that w i l l allow low-income groups (seniors, for instance) lo attend dress rehearsals for free. The Players are also exploring the possibility of sponsoring highschool drama students. If there is any direction in which the group needs to go, it is in developing its younger audiences and encouraging ihem to become members. To this end. the Players are presenting a youth improvisation group. 43 Pounds of Wasted Space, sometime in the fall. They are also considering forming a youth section. People are encouraged to contact the Players with ideas and suggestions, or to volunteer. Please call 983-2633. Please take note: The play scheduled and advertised for the first two weeks of November, Pack of Lies, has been replaced by The Killing of Sister George, a fourwoman play. Sister George is a character in a B B C soap opera. The powers-that-be have decided it is time to take her off the show, because the actress' real-life reputation is threatening to sully that of the character she plays. A killer is hired, hut she jusl ends up running off with the actress' lover... Call the box office at 983-2633 for details. CecillA L A W O r l t literary Contest Call for Entries Aspiring writers arc invited to submit entries to the 17lh Annual Cecilia Lamont Literary Contest, sponsored by the While Rock & Surrey Writers' Club. The subject is open. Poetry or prose that has uol been previously published for a fee will be accepted for consideration Awards iuclude the Lamont trophy, cash prizes and Honorable Mention certificates. The deadline is October 31st, 1992. For more information, phone 531-9256. The history of the group also reflects the history' of the community. A number of North Shore-ites have been involved with the organization since its early days--Ann and Don Marsh. Glen and Margaret Grieves. Olive Goodacre and Florence Goodwin. The Players also boast an impressive alumni list: Dave Broadfoot ko ' v. lm Canadian A i r Farce). Joy Metcalfe, Don Mackay (an Equity actor). Marc Howard, bit--John CI© tot Mo Pwhon la The John Cleese connection came about when the Players sought to mount a production of Fawlty Towers, Because ii hadn't yet been released for the stage, th had to write Cleese a letter requesting permission. This was kindly granted, ani rumour has it that Cleese almost made it opening nishi! A:i A l- i 1992 5