Every year, Winter Carnival swoops in to relieve Vernon residents of their winter blues. And, every year, Michael Poirier plays his part as writer/director to enliven the festival.

Poirier害羞草研究所檚 Backstage Theatre presents Wonderland Retirement Home Feb. 7-10 at the Schubert Centre as part of the Vernon Winter Carnival. This year, the Carnival害羞草研究所檚 theme is Carnival in Wonderland.

害羞草研究所淚 do wait until the theme of Carnival comes out (to begin writing),害羞草研究所� Poirier said, adding that he has written plays for Winter Carnival since 2006. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about a retirement home for actors who never made it to the red carpet, and they害羞草研究所檙e all down on themselves 害羞草研究所� a little depressed.害羞草研究所�

Characters in the play, reliving their glory days by refusing to let go of the characters they once embodied, are disheartened by the day害羞草研究所檚 lacklustre 害羞草研究所渂ig害羞草研究所� news: Wonderland is receiving new bingo cards. Gus Calling害羞草研究所檚 Ninja Man (Mike Panian) and Chancey Calm害羞草研究所檚 Tinkerbell (Betty Anne Northup), like the rest of the gossip-fuelled actors that call Wonderland home, are constantly at each others throats, which only serves to make matters worse.

害羞草研究所淭he new owner tries to bring moral up by producing a play, but if anyone wants to act, they have to get along,害羞草研究所� Poirier said. 害羞草研究所淲hen the opportunity comes to get back on stage and have fun, they compromise their comfort zones on the regular to serve that opportunity. It害羞草研究所檚 a play about relationships and coming to terms about aging with dignity.害羞草研究所�

Backed by a six-piece band led by music director Julie Armitage, the two act musical comedy features a Winter Carnival-themed menu complete with a two protein buffet.

害羞草研究所淚 had someone who said, 害羞草研究所業 come to your plays because I get greats plays and great dinner. It害羞草研究所檚 like going to a music night,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Poirier said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very great relationship we害羞草研究所檝e had with the Schubert Centre.

Wonderland Retirement Home害羞草研究所檚 score compiles hits from a multitude of genres, from classic rock to big band, to Woodstock-esque tunes and folk jams.

害羞草研究所淗opefully there害羞草研究所檚 something there that appeals to everyone,害羞草研究所� Armitage said. 害羞草研究所淭his year was a bit of a challenge with the Wonderland theme. We ended up using songs that reflected more about either characters or what they were trying to convey.害羞草研究所�

For example, Armitage said, Nurse Nancy (Lori Hancock) sings The Doors害羞草研究所� classic hit Light My Fire while drooling over a photo of her crush. Moreover, the score seeks to add to the fun ambiance found in Wonderland Retirement Home.

Poirier, a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and Best Ensemble and Outstanding New Play Award-winner, put the finishing touches on the script in October. It then went to a first reading in November with four-times a week rehearsals beginning in January.

However, the playwright of more than 25 productions fell into the craft by mere coincidence.

害羞草研究所淚 never let anyone read anything I wrote,害羞草研究所� Poirier said of his early days in writing. 害羞草研究所淚 let Anne (an aquaintance and member of the local theatre society) read one of my short stories and she asked if I could write a play. I wrote a play for her, and I was just hooked.害羞草研究所�

Several years, a handful of films, and dozens of short stories and scripts later, Poirier is looking forward to the curtains opening on Wonderland Retirement Home.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unbelievable the amount of people who stood up and wanted to have fun,害羞草研究所� Poirier said of the audition process. 害羞草研究所淚f you can害羞草研究所檛 walk away happy after putting on a performance, it害羞草研究所檚 not worth it. To me, that害羞草研究所檚 what theatre is all about.害羞草研究所�

Wonderland Retirement Home runs at the Schubert Centre Feb. 7-10. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $49 at the Winter Carnival Office, 250-545-2236, or the Schubert Centre, 250-549-4201.

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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