WESTLOCK - A show for the young, and the young at heart, will take place Feb. 1 as the CATS Family Series in Westlock gets underway with a mystery.
Ron Pearson’s Mystery Wonder Show hits the CATS Theatre that day, with doors opening at 12 p.m. and the show starting at 1 p.m., bringing fun for all ages to the stage.
“What Ron provides is like a live silent movie, similar to Charlie Chaplin. In between the magic and the music, he tells the story of a down on his luck magician who finds success in the big city,” said series co-coordinator Sarah Greenfield.
Composer and pianist Erik Mortimer will perform the background music.
“He’s certainly well-renowned. He’s had a lot of performance experiences to small audiences, large audiences, all types of venues. It’s really nice for us to have our very first performance as a moderately local fellow,” said Greenfield.
Although he’s performed all over the world, Pearson is originally from Edmonton and still does shows at home too, you can often see him at local events like the Edmonton Folk Festival.
The Mystery Wonder Show is billed for audiences aged five and up, but Greenfield added that an attentive, mature three- or four-year old would probably still enjoy the magic show. Nonetheless, the series is intended to appeal to as wide-ranging of an audience as possible in both age and taste.
Similar to the talent-scouting for the Cultural Arts Theatre Series, Greenfield said organizers came across Pearson at the Alberta Showcase organized by Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta in October of every year.
“Different performers provide a sample of their performances and skill-sets and acts that they have to offer. We were able to take in some of that with the broader CATS Society group,” said Greenfield, who approached Pearson then.
Although only one show appears on the bill right now, Greenfield said they’re starting small but working their way to a cycle of shows similar to the CATS series, which runs from November to March.
“We would like to have three, possibly four options throughout the year.”
A few things are in the works following Pearson’s show, but organizers have already booked a show for next Christmas: London, Ontario-based Duffle Bag Company’s A Christmas Carol will be on stage Dec. 4.
In March, Greenfield did a survey of the community’s interest in bringing back family-oriented cultural and performance art events.
Now, she is working on providing kids with a chance to also get involved in theatre. Previously, a Montana-based company, Missoula Children’s Theatre, made its way north to work with kids, which is where the Family Series stems from.
At the time, 30-50 children were involved “intensively for one week, learning lines, training, singing after school for three to five hours depending on their level,” said Greenfield.
At the end of the week, they would put on a play.
It has been two years since the particular program was discontinued, but Greenfield would like to bring a similar experience back to the community to encourage an interest in performing arts and see it develop as much as other programs like athletics and music.
