SURREY — Thank you for the thank-yous. For those of us working in the arts sector, I just want to say that we don’t do what we do for accolades, awards, applause or, sometimes, even financial reward. Of course, those things are great and we like to have them as part of the package. So, thank-you for the thank-yous. We appreciate and value them.

David Dalley keeps me posted about happenings in The Grove, that stand of big trees adjacent to Newton Recreation Centre. Friends of The Grove is a grassroots organization that is effecting positive change in Newton. Filming was recently done at The Grove as part of a documentary series, “The Secret of Change, about the “transition” movement on the west coast of North America.

Following a week of filming in Surrey, dozens of hours of footage, dozens of interviews and filming at multiple events and locations – including The Grove – has resulted in less than 15 minutes of film! Yes, all of their Surrey footage will be edited down to less than 15 minutes – our 15 minutes of fame.

Dalley David writes in his blog, “Thanks to Melanie Minty from the Now newspaper for the great article promoting the event! The Now (has) helped us enormously by getting the word out to the broader public. Through their articles, we’ve been able to reach a wide audience in the Surrey area. We thank them.”

Aw, gee. And we thank you, too, for leading the way in showing what positive action can do to affect change.

The next thank-you is from Beach House Theatre. This summer theatre event has had several successful seasons on a temporary stage at Blackie Spit, in Crescent Beach. Looking on their website, under sponsors, I found this thank-you: “The Now newspaper has helped us enormously by getting the word out to the broader public. Through their articles, we’ve been able to reach a wide audience in the Surrey area. We thank them.”

Thanks for the thanks, and we wish you many more successful seasons.

This summer, Beach House Theatre – it’s actually not in a ‘house,’ but and tent – deviates from its usual Shakespeare production to an Oscar Wilde play, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” This period piece, about two clever, witty young men (aren’t they all witty when they are young?), is set in England in 1895.

With no offence to Shakespeare, they say, the language is easily understood. And, well, some things, like true love, are timeless. The show runs from Aug. 11 to 16. Check out Beachhousetheatre.org to purchase tickets. Be sure to read about the prologue events. Some evening shows will offer a 15-minute prologue with insights into the story, the production and the life of the infamous Mr. Wilde. Don’t delay – most performances are already sold out.

The people at Beach House like to get young people interested in theatre. In August, the company also presents “Munsch Upon a Time,” based on stories by Robert Munsch – among them, “David’s Father,” “The Fire Station,” “Give Me Back My Dad,” “It’s My Room” and one of his most beloved stories, “The Paperbag Princess.”

The run is short, from Aug. 12 to 15. It is the perfect way to spend a summer morning with your kids. Introduce them to the magic of live theatre. Inspire them with the energy, laughter, imagination and joy of these great stories, told in a spectacular location. They might just thank you, too. For “Munsch Upon a Time,” tickets for most shows are still available, and the cost is less than $10. This just might be more magical and educational than a movie with minions or video game icons attacking the earth.

Thank you.

melminty@telus.net

 

Surrey Now