For the past 11 years the Wawota Acting Company has hosted an evening of entertainment to fundraise in support of World Vision. This year they held their production on Sunday, April 23, and they were able to raise $2,073 for World Vision. Soon they will determine which gifts from the World Vision catalogue they will support with the funds raised. Last year they bought animals, agriculture support, healthcare, education, and food in a variety of ways.
The production opened with a short skit “Go Riders!” in which two Blue Bombers fans were sitting in the stands amongst a throng of Rider green. As fans cheered, annoyed each other, and supported their teams, laughter filled the Wawota Town Hall. Performing in the piece were all of the Wawota Acting Company members: Brynn Appell, Kelton Ford, Sierra Murray, Madison Wilson, Hannah Pilloud, Briana DeRoo, Makaila Mansfield, Kye-lynn VanMeer, Hannah Kormos, Reed VanDresar, Arielle Hientz, Taylene Bourgon, Skylar DeRoo, Lisa Morrissette, Lauren Wilson, Taylor Pilloud, Parker Weatherald, Marissa Charles, and Faith Heinrichs.
The next short play, “What Happened to Peace and Goodwill?” involved Brynn Appell, Kelton Ford, Hannah Pilloud, Sierra Murray, Madison Wilson, and Briana DeRoo.
Appell and Pilloud play clerks at a check-out in a busy store, while Ford’s character, Henry, is attempting to make purchases. The clerks are going mighty slow to as not injure themselves and when requesting a price check on an item they are blown away that Henry wants them to ask a second time for the check because it was taking awhile. Henry finally decides that he doesn’t want to buy any of the gifts and will just give money because it’s easier.
The audience was then drawn to the other side of the stage where Sierra Murray was fielding complaints as a clerk at the Customer Complaint desk. Two ladies, Millie (Madison Wilson) and Sarah (Briana DeRoo), come to make a complaint about each other, since it’s the “Customer Complaint” desk. It turns out the two women had fought over a dress, ripping it in two, and were upset with the turn out. As they attempt to get things sorted another sale is announced over the loud speaker and off they go to find a deal.
Very receptive of this piece the crowd chuckled and clapped throughout the performance.
Next up was a performance of “Three Right Smart Gals.” Makaila Mansfield played Clara, Kye-lynn VanMeer played Phoebe, and Hannah Kormos played Maggie. The three sisters live in a rural area, off the beaten path, where GPS and cell phones don’t work. Not wanting to give up perfectly good lumber, they need to fix their roof after all, the ladies keep stealing a wooden sign designating the two mile marker for the turnpike. Thus, people from the city – typically searching for antiques – continually get lost and end up in their yard.
This time Francis (Reed VanDresar), Harris (Kelton Ford), Carter (Sierra Murray), and Peggy (Arielle Hientz) arrive looking for the turnpike; purchasing a map from the women the visitors then realize that the rocking chair the cat is sitting on is worth a lot, so deciding to try and get it for a steal of a deal they ask about purchasing the cat, comically buying it for $24 after Clara quickly acts as an auctioneer having their visitors bid against each other in the heat of the moment.
After purchasing the cat for more than they originally offered, the four visitors then offer to buy the chair for a dollar. The sisters laugh at them and refuse to sell it… after all it’s their lucky chair; every visitor to their farm has purchased a cat off of the chair for at least $20. The sisters place another cat on the chair, explaining that the one they just sold the four visitors was their third one that day.
The comical scene had those in the audience in stitches. Laughing at the seemingly “simple,” yet ingenious way the sisters took advantage of the visiting city slickers who thought they were duping the sisters.
The final production of the evening was a performance of “Way Way Down East.” This play saw a family Hepzibah Ludlow (Skylar DeRoo), Ezekiel Ludlow (Lisa Morrissette), and Lily Ludlaw (Lauren Wilson) fallen on hard times along with Henrietta (Taylor Pilloud), about to have their farm foreclosed on by Tedious J. Impossible (Marissa Charles). Although Impossible comes across as a decent person while interacting with the Ludlow’s he really has an evil plan of foreclosing and then selling the south pasture to Bertram Moneybags (Parker Weatherald).
Attempting to help save the family is Ronald Fitzwilliam (Reed VanDresar) who is courting Lily. His plan is to sell an invention to Moneybags and use that money to save the Ludlow’s farm.
Lily is out picking berries, however, when Impossible and his cohort, William P. McNasty (Faith Heinrichs), are out walking the south pasture and Impossible reveals to McNasty what his plan is. Lily comes out of hiding and exclaims that she will tell her family, but McNasty and Impossible tie her to the railroad tracks in hopes of getting rid of her. Thankfully Fitzwilliam comes across the tracks to find his beloved in danger. He rescues her and together they foil Impossible’s nefarious plan.
Narrating is Taylene Bourgon who encouraged the audience to cheer for the heroes and boo at the villains throughout.
Overall the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by those in attendance and the productions were praised by many.
