A lot of things have changed in the first 10 years of The Vaudevillians, but one thing has remained the same: The need to help others.
Just like the first show in 2002 in Barkerville, where members raised $4,500 to keep an elementary school open, the seniors’ entertainment troupe keeps collecting money for annual bursaries for deserving performing arts students at Douglas College – to the tune of $72,000 so far.
The elements for The Vaudevillians came from founders Fran Dowie, his daughter Susie Francis, and tap dancers linked to instructor Sandra Greene, who still helps with regular rehearsals at the Kennedy Seniors’ Recreation Centre in North Delta.
Former director, current vice-president and upcoming president Jim Trimble was also there at the beginning.
Photo: Jim Trimble
Having spent seven years with Toastmasters – and getting comfortable in front of a crowd – he was the perfect fit as master of ceremonies with The Vaudevillians.
“I’m the only M.C. we’ve had. I think I’ve missed two shows in 10 years,” says the 81-year-old.
Since then, it’s been all song, dance and comedy – a modern-day take on vaudeville stage acts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Trimble says the calibre of the ensemble has improved greatly in recent years.
Though technically they’re an amateur (and non-profit) troupe, when they get on stage, they set the bar to a professional standard.
Trimble credits much of the improvement to current artistic director Gordon Long, a retired drama teacher from Prince George.
“He’s a master of directing comedy.”
Trimble also gives recognition to seamstresses Leigh Burton and Karen Arland – two ladies responsible for some seven or eight complete costume changes for up to 22 performers in a show that lasts nearly two hours.
The shows, a medley of comedy skits, dancing and singing, are based on material up to 1940 – it was up to 1930 until last year, but an infusion of Broadway acts meant adding a decade.
There has always been one new Vaudevillians program each year, introduced each November and repeated, with minor variations, at different venues throughout the Lower Mainland – around 20 performances each year.
Photo by Boaz Joseph: Sandra Greene (left) directs Vaudevillians dancers during a rehearsal at Kennedy Seniors’ Recreation Centre.
The highlights in this year’s show:
• A Pat Trimble and Dan Minor duet song-and-dance of “Ain’t She Sweet”;
• Dorothy Perkins, 91, singing “I Enjoy Being a Girl”; and
• The Can Can dance – always an audience favourite.
Each show is accompanied on piano by Alice McAuley, 83.
Though the basic structure of each performance remains the same, weekly rehearsals take place for 10 months each year to keep the acts sharp.
“Being seniors, we don’t retain things as well as younger people,” Trimble chuckles.
The Vaudevillians range in age from 59 to 91.
For more information about The Vaudevillians, visit www.thevaudevillians.com
bjoseph@surreyleader.com
