The Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre will bring you back to the Wild West during its upcoming musical show, Way Out West.
Choreographer Alma Hughes says Way Out West, which features a cast of about 35 and runs March 14-16, is quite a different show than what the seniors’ centre offers each year.
This is the story of an older couple who live on a each, who are reading a diary and going back in their memories to when they first came to this town, she explained.
“Each memory has a scene, so you can see their memories all the way through,” she said.
Lesley Lambert, who is directing the show with Jo Kelly, was raised with country and western music, and she always thought she wanted to do a show about western themes.
“I thought I wanted it to be about couples’ lives,” she said. “This basically goes from Rogers and Hammerstein to Johnny Cash to Shania Twain, so we have a real mix.”
As the performances near, Hughes says everything is going well.
“A lot of talented men have painted and decorated the scenery for us; the talent in the seniors’ centre isn’t just performing,” she noted. “It’s all done here at the seniors’ centre, so anyone who wants to join us, there’s always something to do.”
Cast members sing, dance and act, and Hughes says they have some wonderful singers from the choir.
“It’s so much fun,” said Margaret Maltby, a member of the chorus. “I think if the audience has as much fun as we are having in rehearsals, it’s going to be a knockout show.”
“It’s great to get out here with so many people,” said Gail O’Hara, a member of the chorus. “There’s so much talent.”
Many talented seniors are performing on stage, but there are also many people working behind the scenes, making the scenery, costumes and props.
“It’s a real concerted effort for everyone who wants to be in it,” said Lambert. “Everyone puts the time in and hopefully enjoys the time they put in, and it’s great.”
The Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre presents Way Out West Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. at 9824 Willow St.
The shows are reserved seating, and tickets, which are $15 each, can be purchased Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chemainus Seniors’ Drop-In Centre. If those times do not work for you, you can call Lambert at 250-924-4865 and she will arrange to meet you at the centre at another time.
