By Katie Ryan
Theatre is alive and well in Saskatchewan.
Community theatre groups from across the prairie province recently descended upon the Vic Juba Community Theatre stage and presented a myriad of one act plays, competing against and entertaining one another in TheatreOne 2009.
Acting as host of the three -day festival, the Border City shone said festival chairperson Suzanne Malo.
“I was really pleased with the way the event went. Our committee worked really hard and we worked together really well,” she said, adding the six community theatre groups were impressed by what the Vic Juba Theatre had to offer and praised the committee’s organization.
“The festival they said, was just impeccable. They thought the facility was just fantastic. They thought the Vic Juba was one of the best places to perform in and they liked how the Black Box Theatre was right there.”
Malo said that while she was disappointed with the lower than expected audience numbers, the festival went off without a hitch and even garnered one local actor a trophy.
Lloydminster’s own thespian troupe, the Vic Juba Community Players hit the stage on opening night, Nov. 5, with “Asylum,” by Dennis Bush. On Saturday night, Jeremy Kerr was recognized for his talent and acting chops as “Kevin,” taking home the trophy for Best Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role.
“I thought they did really well for their first time out, because they had some pretty stiff competition,” said Malo of the Vic Juba Community Players.
Best Director and Best Play went to the Prairie Land Players of Kerrobert, for their one act production entitled “The Valedictorian,” by Charles W. Smiley.
For those who did attend the festival, Malo said they enjoyed the variety that Lloyd Little Theatre: One Act Festival had to offer.
“Thursday night was completely comedy and tragedy, because ‘Asylum’ was a dark, dreary play and ‘The Valedictorian’ was a comedy,” said Malo. “So they got the masks there for sure. Everybody enjoyed it, they like the variety.”
During the festival, Vic Juba general manager Ron Ror, conducted an improv workshop which proved to be a hit with attendees said Malo.
“There were some people who were a little nervous going into improv, but they came out feeling better about it,” she said. The silent auction netted roughly $1,000 for Theatre Saskatchewan.
“We get 50 per cent of the profits,” said Malo of the Vic Juba Community Players. “The rest of it gets distributed back to all of the other community groups in Saskatchewan.”
The Vic Juba Community Players made their debut last Thursday with “Asylum.” - Katie Ryan Photo