One has low expectations of the Cowichan Theatre, because gosh it IS in Duncan. I visit Duncan regularly. At 6000 RPM. And still the cheap, billboard-cluttered, saggy-bottomed little town does not go by fast enough for comfort. I was thinking just the other day it would be my first choice as test site if I ever become a nuclear power. It really is a chafing ass-blister of a place.
But Shannon, dear Shannon my sister Shannon, was musical director in the Shawnigan Lake School production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. So I had to go see it.
The morning of, Shannon phoned to say: "go early, so you get a good parking spot, because our friend got her car broken into while she was at the show last night." Oh, good. Oh great. Oh yeah, Duncan, queen of slatternly tarts.
Got there early. Parked under a big old street light. Hired Pinkertons to watch the car. Sallied forth into the theatre slash library slash rec centre slash curling rink.
And there, all negative vibes ceased.
The theatre is really quite nice. And there were my two darling cousins, Katy and Sharon, probably the kindest, sweetest girls in the entire world, waiting about also for the show to start. Rachelle and I admired Katy's engagement ring. He's a lucky chap, whoever he is (I haven't met him yet). And there was Shannon, waving to us from the orchestra pit where she was mostly hidden even when standing. We waved back. Enthusiastically.
Blah blah blah - show starts. A spotlight shines down on a blond and disembodied head, which swivels to face the audience and flashes a very Shannonesque grin. Shannon does not put on a persona when she is in front of an audience - she is completely genuine. Head turns back, spotlight dies, thin white stick pops up out of nowhere. Pause. Music begins. And the head begins to bounce the lively beat while the stick leads, dances, and weaves the overture together, hands incredibly expressive. Very Tyrrell, those hands. I've seen them on Kinza too. Long fingers on the ends of long forearms, like there's too many joints, like they belong to trees.
And the play. was. fantastic.
Everybody did just a wonderful job - I've never seen such choreography. We thoroughly enjoyed pretty much every minute. And I am not a gusher; I do not gush. But this really was the best amateur theatre production I've ever seen. I was immensely proud of Shannon, and I think I'd better say that, on behalf of the rest of the family, Shannon, you are brilliant.
But Shannon, dear Shannon my sister Shannon, was musical director in the Shawnigan Lake School production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. So I had to go see it.
The morning of, Shannon phoned to say: "go early, so you get a good parking spot, because our friend got her car broken into while she was at the show last night." Oh, good. Oh great. Oh yeah, Duncan, queen of slatternly tarts.
Got there early. Parked under a big old street light. Hired Pinkertons to watch the car. Sallied forth into the theatre slash library slash rec centre slash curling rink.
And there, all negative vibes ceased.
The theatre is really quite nice. And there were my two darling cousins, Katy and Sharon, probably the kindest, sweetest girls in the entire world, waiting about also for the show to start. Rachelle and I admired Katy's engagement ring. He's a lucky chap, whoever he is (I haven't met him yet). And there was Shannon, waving to us from the orchestra pit where she was mostly hidden even when standing. We waved back. Enthusiastically.
Blah blah blah - show starts. A spotlight shines down on a blond and disembodied head, which swivels to face the audience and flashes a very Shannonesque grin. Shannon does not put on a persona when she is in front of an audience - she is completely genuine. Head turns back, spotlight dies, thin white stick pops up out of nowhere. Pause. Music begins. And the head begins to bounce the lively beat while the stick leads, dances, and weaves the overture together, hands incredibly expressive. Very Tyrrell, those hands. I've seen them on Kinza too. Long fingers on the ends of long forearms, like there's too many joints, like they belong to trees.
And the play. was. fantastic.
Everybody did just a wonderful job - I've never seen such choreography. We thoroughly enjoyed pretty much every minute. And I am not a gusher; I do not gush. But this really was the best amateur theatre production I've ever seen. I was immensely proud of Shannon, and I think I'd better say that, on behalf of the rest of the family, Shannon, you are brilliant.
Best time I've ever had in Duncan!
...and reading Peter's blog!