Airdrie’s local community theatre company, Nose Creek Players, is inviting the community down the rabbit hole to check out their production of Alice in Wonderland at the Bert Church LIVE Theatre next week.
Three showings will be held, including May 26 at 7:30 p.m. and May 27 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Taking the role of director for the first time in his theatre career, Nose Creek Players member Garry Buzzard said he wanted to give directing a try. With the colourful world of Alice in Wonderland, Buzzard felt like this was a great opportunity.
“There's so much scope for the imagination, how you do it, how you present it, the visuals, even selections of music,” he said. “It's a tremendous opportunity, and a great deal of fun for everybody involved.”
Since the production boasts several characters, Buzzard said everyone who auditioned was able to secure a role.
After roles were assigned, the play began to take shape through months of rehearsals.
Being new to directing, Buzzard created his own process in developing the play from start to finish. Reading over the Alice in Wonderland script several times allowed Buzzard to visualize how to bring Alice and the other characters to life on stage.
Buzzard said allowing the actors some creative freedom often opens new ideas and different perspectives into the characters. He added when actors read through the scripts, they often develop a better sense of who their character is and how they can be portrayed.
“Let people play and explore,” Buzzard said. “As long as people are having fun, especially with a play of this nature, that's so fanciful. You [have to] just let people have fun trying things. I don't care how wild it is. Try it.”
Some of the Nose Creek Players cast members who will star in the upcoming shows include Elodie White as Alice; Taylor Amanda Burton as Cheshire Cat; Jasmine Lepage as Tweedledee; Gary Parker as Tweedledum; Betty Cymbalisty as Catarpillar and Guard; Tare Rennebohm as Hare; Karalee Braun as Guard; Andy Lepage as King; Jennifer Wudrich as Mad Hatter and Gardener; Julie Bleichert as Gryphon; and Brenna Perlinger as Cook and Soldier.
Highlighting the importance of community theatre, Buzzard said that everyone involved in Nose Creek Players’ springtime production is enthusiastic about the upcoming performances. He touted the positive and supportive environment that this particular crew brought to rehearsals.
Recognizing the collaboration it takes to put on a show of this magnitude, Buzzard said it has been rewarding to see the production come together. He said that putting on a live theatrical show is a time-consuming process, and the crew involved must move past any frustrations that arise during rehearsals.
“There's some incredibly talented and funny people that I'm working with that just pull things out and make me laugh out loud,” Buzzard said. “But it's the collaborative creation and when it all starts coalescing, and when an idea that you threw out there comes back and works, it's an incredible feeling.”
Buzzard said it is great that live theatre is back in Airdrie after shows were shut down due the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. He said theatre helps bring the community together and provides new experiences.
With movies using CGI and other tactics to bring a story to life, Buzzard argued that theatre allows for more imagination. He said that attendees must invest themselves into what is being displayed in front of them.
“To let your imagination go into it, believe it and get invested in it – I think that's a very valuable experience for anybody,” he said.
More information about the show and tickets can be found on the Nose Creek Players website or at the City of Airdrie website.
