The Lampman Community Theatre returned to the stage from Dec. 8 to 10, with a production that offered music and laughs for the hundreds of people in attendance.
Storm Stayed at the Legion was performed at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Lampman branch each night. The timing is ironic, since the musical comedy was performed just days after southeast Saskatchewan was smacked by a blizzard that brought high winds and heavy snow to the region.
Maureen Ulrich, who penned the show, paid tribute to the determination of the cast.
“We had rehearsed on the Thursday before (the show), and we weren’t able to do anything in terms of rehearsals until the day of the show,” Ulrich said in an interview with Lifestyles.
Cast members gathered on Dec. 8 for a run-through of the script, and focused on a couple areas that needed work.
“We performed it, and they just did it flawlessly,” said Ulrich.
Storm Stayed at the Legion featured the talents of 22 individuals, with 20 of them in the show, and two involved with sound and lighting. Some people had small roles, but they still had to work on their timing due to the small stage at the Lampman Legion.
“There was a lot of choreography going on, getting people on and off the stage, and finding places for them to hide out until they came back on stage,” said Ulrich.
Other cast members have been part of the show for many years.
About 65 people attended the show the first night. Attendance peaked at 120 the second, and dipped down to 90 for the third. Supper was served for the final two showings.
Storm Stayed at the Legion tells the story of the Legion in the fictitious town of Flattown, Saskatchewan. Not only is it struggling financially, but the past-president is not coping well with the fact she isn’t president any longer, so she makes life difficult for the new president, who is also new to the community.
“Then, of course, the storm hits, so everyone winds up being storm stayed at the Legion, and thing are worked out between the two presidents,” said Ulrich.
The production had more musical numbers than any show that Ulrich has produced for the Lampman Community Theatre, and she credited Laurie Fornwald for her work as the musical director.
Ulrich noted that the shows she has written in the past have often had some foreshadowing for real life events, so she’s not surprised that a storm hit just days before the production was staged. But they were fortunate that the storm only interfered with the rehearsals, and the performances weren’t cancelled.
Proceeds will be directed towards Lampman’s Legion, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Ulrich noted the Legion needs some repairs, particularly with its roof, and she expects the show will raise between $10,000 to $15,000 for the Legion.
