WASSAIL! is set for three memorable performances at =
the McManus=20
Theatre (downstairs at The Grand Theatre).
This is wonderful family entertainment which recreates =
a=20
19th Century English village Christmas with traditional =
carols,=20
country dances, Morris and sword dances, seasonal narratives, and a =
Mummers'=20
play.
For the 16th consecutive year, a group of London =
singers and=20
dancers who love recreating some of the fine old English Christmas =
customs will=20
stage their performance of Wassail! in the McManus Studio Theatre =
at the=20
Grand Theatre. Last year both weekend performances were sold out, so =
this year=20
the organizers have added a second performance on Sunday. =
Performances=20
are set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 8th and twice on =
Sunday,=20
December 9th at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
As in past years, traditional Morris and sword dances, =
English=20
country dances and carols and a Mummers' play will form the basis of=20
Wassail!, with poetry and prose from the 19th Century describing =
the=20
seasonal customs and practices of the period. The villagers regularly =
gathered=20
in the local pub to celebrate Christmas with songs of the season, =
dances, and=20
stories of Christmas past. Many of the carols in this year’s =
production=20
were collected from village choirs that still gather at Christmas time =
in the=20
local pubs in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. The tales told by the villagers =
in the=20
performance are taken largely from Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens. The =
English=20
Country dances are ones that were popular in the mid-19th =
Century,=20
some of which were seen in recent films based on the novels of Jane =
Austen. The=20
Mummers' play in this year's production was created especially =
Wassail!=20
and uses contemporary Canadian political themes and figures as the basis =
for the=20
script.
Wassail! is written and directed by K. Reed =
Needles, and=20
produced by Tom Siess. Actors include K. Reed Needles, Bronwyn =
Powell-Wasse,=20
David Wasse, Imogen Wasse, Tom Siess and Julia Webb. Music is provided =
by the=20
Wassail Choir of London, Blair Heddle (fiddle), Leslie Jost (keyboard), =
Tracey=20
Klue Meredith (clarinet), Reed Needles (percussion, bass), and Tom Siess =
(melodeon, keyboard). Dancing is by the London Playford Dancers, and =
Forest City=20
Morris and Sword. Over 180 different people have taken part in =
Wassail!=20
in the course of the sixteen productions. This year's performance =
includes 25=20
people, five of whom have been part of every production, and thirteen =
who have=20
been in over half of them. Wassail! is a not-for-profit =
production.
Tickets for the production are on sale now at the =
Grand Theatre=20
Box Office (672-8800) and are $12.00 for adults, and $6.00 for Seniors =
and=20
children.
For Further Information Contact: Tom=20
Siess at 519-433-1834 or by e-mail: tfsiess@sympatico.ca