The Parson’s Predicament by Brian E. Hornick

Westminster United Church’s Musical Dinner Theatre

January 27-30, 1999

reported by Janet Rose

Members of the Westminster Church Family staged a musical Dinner Theatre recently.  Many hands behind the scenes, as well as on stage, donated and prepared food, served the meal of roast beef with trimmings, and cleaned up afterwards.  Wendy Klassen and David Luyten coordinated the whole complex task, as well as headed the Kitchen section.

A multitude of people worked behind the scenes while our till-now undiscovered talent acted, sang, and danced their way to new fame and great applause.  James Farrell handled the lighting (first time he had done it), while Donna Steele (Producer) and Sue Higgins (Stage Manager), with the help of Dave Curtis, managed things backstage, and did everything and anything that was needed.  Sets were looked after by David Curtis, David Sawatsky, Doug Thorson, and Herb Zollner.  Costumes by Lynn Snowden, Properties by Linda Ibbotson, Sound by Lloyd Kilback, Make-up by Debi Hoefling, Security by Charlie Thompson, and Musical Director Ainslee Young completed the production group.  Ainslee also accompanied the performances in profession fashion.

Betty Stroh, Connie Curtis, Pat Owens, and Susan Tombs did the beautiful decorations, and set up the attractive tables for the meal.

Major roles were handled by Bill Young, Glenn Marr and Pat Marshall.  Supporting players (no less important to the play) were Wally Bergstreser, Jeanette Zollner, Grace Alcock, Eleanor Townsend, Herb Zollner, Vivian Bergstreser, Carol Bell, Anne Lonson, Mugs Worth, Linda Ibbotson, Heather Young and Mike McOuat.

We saw performances by Jane Clarke as Natasha and Gerald Weiss as Abdul that we could never have imagined until we saw them in action.  Mugs Worth delivered the Hallelujah Chorus as it’s never been done before: new words—think “Medication!”  Our seasoned action Bill Young lent his own touch to his part as Edwin.  Nobody knew what he’d come up with next.  Heather and Mike gave a particularly sensitive interpretation of their roles as an independent young woman of the nineties, and a newly-fledged young parson—they were convincingly “young and in love”.

Everyone one of the actors was convincing.  Never a dull moment, with a laugh in almost every line.

All these folks worked hard for weeks before, under the capable directing of Marg McCulley.  On the final night Marg also stood in for Pat Marshall in the role of Amelia due to Pat’s illness—but the audience would never have realized that she wasn’t in the part all the way along.  Versatile!

The event was a fine example of our Church Family working together.  In spit of the hard work, illness, accident, and two robberies, the Dinner Show was presented on schedule with style and dispatch.  All four nights sold out.  A hundred extra “performance only” tickets were sold to accommodate the demand.

Many thanks to each and everyone who contributed to our Big Show in anyway whatever.  it was a wonderful way for our Community of Faith to come together and work shoulder to shoulder for a good cause.