People are Saying Great Things About The Weir...

Here are some of the reviews for Walterdale's 54th Season Opener, The Weir.  It sure is flattering to hear all this praise for our work!

Colin McLean, Edmonton Sun

"The potent mix of McPherson's gift for storytelling, blarney, charm and poignancy,sympathetic direction (Anne Marie Szucs) and an excellent cast that seem as authentic as the peat moss burning in the grate, will keep you entranced."

Charlotte Forss, Gateway

"The warmth of the pub atmosphere is key to the success of The Weir as a play. The production’s strongest point is its ability to transform the seats of the theatre into the seats of a pub where you just happen to be overhearing a night of stories. Everything from the technical elements to the cultural details to the non-verbal communication between characters contributes to the believability of the characters and, by extension, the believability of their stories."

Ana Osorio, Sound and Noise

"Yes, this is a play about ghosts and fairies, about unexplained phenomena—some hearsay, some from personal experience. In total, the characters will tell you four stories about an incident related to the paranormal, and if you have a very active imagination I can guarantee you will get goosebumps as you hear each one of them."

Anna Borowiecki, St. Albert Gazette

"The Weir combines theatrical art, entertainment and a bit of a spiritual quest. The stories are brilliant, the dialogue lyrical and cast truly embodies their character."

Check Out The Art in the Lobby and Get a Sweet Theatre Deal!

This Saturday (tomorrow, October 20th) if you are checking out the Strathcona Farmer's Market, do yourself a favour and pop into the theatre to see our current Art in the Lobby display.  Every show the art is changed and new work from Alberta Artists is on display.  While you are there taking a peek at the beautiful work, grab a coupon to get a fabulous deal on The Weir, now playing at Walterdale.  The coupon will get you a $5.00 discount on selected nights of the show. 

Opening Night - The Weir!

Tonight we kick off Waltedale's 54th Season with The Weir.  The weather seems perfect for the show.  It's the kind of show that calls for a windy Fall evening.  We hope that you make it out tonight and that we can share the spirit of community so present in the piece.  The more I think about it, with it's themes of the supernatural, storytelling and community, this show feels written for Walterdale.

Here are a few media previews that came out today.

The Gateway - Preview Article

Edmonton Journal - Ten to Do

Join us tonight at 8 p.m. for the show and upstairs for our reception afterwards where we shall all raise a glass together!

Media Call - The Weir on deck at Walterdale!

Wednesday was our media call for The Weir.  Douglas Dollars Stewart came in and did another fabulous job capturing the spirit of the show in pictures.  You can check them out here.

Anglia Redding and Jeff Turkiewicz- ASM and Sound Op. on The Weir

Anglia has been attached to The Weir since before auditions when she stepped up to ASM. She recently brought her husband Jeff onboard to join the team as Sound Op.

What is your role in the production?

Anglia – I’m one of two assistant stage managers who are working behind the scenes to make sure that the actors have all necessary props on hand. When you see them spending money, I made sure it got into the pocket!

Jeff - I was recruited to be the light operator, but I was promoted* to sound operator before I even set foot in the booth.
*Note: there is no official ranking between sound op. and lighting op. but for this show, sound op. has more cues...

What is your background in theatre?
Anglia – I was quite a shy person (hard to believe, I know) until I was cast as Jacob Marley in a elementary school production of A Christmas Carol when I was 12. My love of theatre really snowballed from there. I attended Artstrek, a summer theatre camp, for three consecutive years. I completed a two-year Visual and Performing Arts diploma at Keyano Theatre in Fort McMurray. I played roles in Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Les Belles Soeurs, The Trojan Women, The Grapes of Wrath, and the female version of The Odd Couple, as well as many others. Whatever show I wasn’t cast in, I always found a way to weasel my way backstage. The Weir actually ends a 12-year hiatus from the theatre.
Jeff – My background usually consisted of me being an audience member. This is the first show I’ve actually participated in.

Do you have a favourite ghost story you can relate?

Anglia – I am alternately terrified and fascinated with ghosts. I love watching ghost-hunting shows and became particularly entranced by a British series called Most Haunted. There was a group of people and they would set up cameras and other equipment and hang out in a supposedly haunted location all night long. One episode had them hanging out in an brewery. A member of the team went into the basement by himself armed only with a camera. There was a keg ramp that was used to roll the metal containers down onto the floor – it was quite a steep grade. As the guy started talking to whatever entity he thought was there, a keg full of stout began rolling UP the ramp – a feat that’s impossible unless two people are pushing it. And he was down there by himself! I actually shrieked out loud. Jeff made fun of me for at least a week.

Jeff – Although I consider myself a skeptic, I do love a good ghost story. When I was a kid, the movie The Changeling starring George C. Scott, terrified the hell out of me. I remember sneaking out of bed and hiding behind my mother’s armchair to watch it when I should have been in bed. I had nightmares for weeks. Having re-watched it as an adult, it certainly wasn’t as scary as it was when I was little, but that memory has always stayed with me.

Why do you think audiences should come and see The Weir?

Anglia – It’s the perfect play for October. There’s always been a little but of spookiness associated with it because of its lead up to Halloween. The Weir is great way to get a little chill down the spine before it’s time for all the ghosts and ghouls to come out for real.

Jeff – I think it’s great to come out and support local theatre. Plus what Ang said.

Walterdale Fun Awards - Celebrating Our Membership!

One of the things that we do each year at the Walterdale AGM is celebrate our membership with awards.  We deal with the business portion of the meeting first and then follow that with a more informal program of events where the Fun Awards, Outstanding Season Contribution Award, and Jack Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award are given out. We also take a bit of time to introduce the upcoming season to the membership. This year's Jack Wilson Award went to Geri Dittrich.  We had been trying to give this award to her for a number of years and finally we could.  Those of you who know Walterdale know that we would not have the phenomenal costume department without her contributions over the years.  This also dove-tailed nicely with the Outstanding Season Contribution Award which was given to Wardrobe Coordinator Elaina Bolton.  We are fortunate to have the Wardrobe Department that we do have and these two women are certainly a large part of the reason we have what we have.

One of the things I have a lot of fun doing each year is coordinating the Walterdale Fun Awards.  Nominations can be made by anyone for anyone in our membership.  They are often silly but also help to recognize the great work that our members do.

Here are this year's Fun Award recipients:

Erika Noot - Raising the Bar Award -  by singing a high "C" while hanging upside down from a pole and Best Troll Hairdo Award for her upside down do. (Nine)

The cast and crew of Nine - Most Supportive and Loving Group Award. A number of the cast, crew and team were dealing with major life issues outside of the show, and this group was caring, kind, supportive, and created a safe environment where we could literally leave our troubles at the door and do the work, without the show suffering. (Nine)

Sarah van Tassel - Got Yer Back, Jack Award; outstanding support of directorship in the face of adversity. (Wyrd Sisters)

Beth Day - Second Fiddle Virtuoso Award: delicately sculpting micro while Primo Uomo cobbled together macro. (Wyrd Sisters)

David Rumer for Best Death scene (Wyrd Sisters)

Stan Woo for Best Supporting Death scene (Wyrd Sisters)

John Trehart – Testosterone amidst the Estrogen Award for being the only man among many women sewing on the show. He also sewed on many other shows in the season. John is especially recognized for his sewing of the burlap bags. (From Cradle to Stage)

Justin Deveau – The Hardened Male Award for having to deal with so many ‘difficult’ women in one season (reasons to be pretty, Wyrd Sisters, and Love of the Nightingale).

Darrell Portz – Ministry of Silly Walks Award for his Bent Knees playing Hwel the dwarf in Wyrd Sisters.

Mandy Stewart – Tangled Award – for threatening to wash her hair more often than anyone ever in a show, but with the most distressing results – Magrat in Wyrd Sisters.

Lindsey Walker – Potty Mouth Award – for the most curse words in an opening scene (reasons to be pretty).

Amelia Maciejewski – Enraged Award – for playing Raging Characters three seasons in a row (Albertine in Five Times, Rabbit Hole and Beautiful Thing) – she’s worried she’s getting type cast!

Kristin Johnston Snelgrove – Hiding her Inner Clown Award – For playing the serious character Luisa in Nine, despite being one of the biggest clowns in the cast. You should see the out-takes. Also Best Warm-Up Award (Nine)

Jeffrey Swanson – Older than his Years Award – For being the most mature member of the cast of Nine despite being the youngest – never missed an entrance, never missed a line, never late for rehearsal, you could always count on Jeffrey!

Parazanda Valois – A Rose Among Thorns Award – for playing the ever patient waitress dealing with the grumpy old men of Apocalypse Saskatchewan. Knowing those guys, she probably had to be just as patient offstage and she did onstage!

Kat Evans - The Biggest Poof Award - for having the highest hair poof in Nine.

Kristen Finlay and Nathan Stasiewich  - The Snuggies Wuggie Award - for their snuggies during Pyjama Sitz Probe (Nine).

Adam Mazzerole-Kuss – The GLORIOUS Award – for the fabulous choreography in Nine and for pushing the cast to always kick higher, and do it faster, and always with a smile!

Megan Lindmark – Grace Under Pressure Award – for keeping things running incredibly smoothly despite losing our ASM the day before Final Dress rehearsal and a myriad of hiccups. (Nine)

May Kharaghani – Best Smile Award - Not only does she smile with her mouth, she smiles with her whole face, even with her hair. May, in my humble opinion, is the epitome of Walterdale Volunteers. She takes on a task, works it hard and works it to the end.

Marliss Weber – A Thousand Voices Award - For exemplary work helping cultivate a multitude of accents on our stage, this season and in many seasons in the past.

Janine Hodder – Shutterbug Award – for her outstanding work photographing the cast of Nine for the Callboard – coming in to play for light levels and then coming back and working hard to make them all look gorgeous. (Nine)

Sally Hunt – Harmonious Sounds Award – For her dedication to making everything pitch perfect. (Nine)

We are truly fortunate to have so many wonderful members.  Remember - anyone can nominate anyone else for a Fun Award.  Just email walterdalefun@yahoo.ca and let us know!

Introducing Gavin O'Toole - Finbar Mack in The Weir

1. What is your role in this production? I play the part of Finbar Mack, a real estate agent, hotel owner and opportunistic entrepreneur. Although raised in the same rural area in which the play is set, Finbar left for the town under the auspices of seeking his fortune, his departure however may have been underpinned by a more haunting disturbance. For a return visit to this small community that should provide him the opportunity to affirm his carefully cultivated status, he is met by an evening that takes on some unexpected turns.

2. What is your background in theatre? I began my actor training in the school classroom, with a dedication to entertaining teachers and students rather than tending to the daily activities presented on any blackboard. It took a decade from there before giving actor training any serious consideration. Between the Gaiety School of Acting and Bull Alley Theatre Training Company in Dublin, I spent three years tinkering with the calling. Before coming to Canada in 2004 I played roles as Shakepeare's Romeo, Wagner in Doctor Faustus and Paddy Maguire in one of Irelands longest running plays, Goodbye to the Hill. This will be my first full length production in Canada and Walterdale.

3. Do you have a favourite ghost story you can relate? Having the karma to be born with an older brother who saw his siblings as real life test dummies for his wildly creative, but macabre, sense of humour; most of the ghostly occurrences/stories that have lasted, were enacted pranks executed by him close to bedtime. Gore-ified mannequins were placed behind curtains and set to topple from windowsills to our beds, hand made monsters attached to string slowly emerged from under our beds, made mobile through a deft-hand stationed on the landing. Tape recorders were slid under beds with time delay periods before heavy breathing and eerie sounds would begin to rise up from under our mattresses. Ghostly Stories and movies have had to take second place to a childhood impacted by these temporarily-real moments of true terror!

4. Why do you think audiences should come and see The Weir? If you have an appreciation for the art of storytelling and enjoy seeing the craft of a master weave the lines between the natural and supernatural, this tale is a standard by which others can be measured. The elements are all in place at Walterdale for ten chilling nights of soul penetrating mischief.

The photos:

Headshot from 2006 - supplied

Before going onstage to play Isaac Tallentire in The Hired Man by Melvyn Bragg - supplied