VIDEOS – When a grand old enterprise like Patricia Entertainment Company turns 100, it’s time to party for days.
Very young vaudevillians, a traditional component of any self-respecting vaudeville circuit, will take the stage for a pre-show program Friday, November 1, just before the screening of Singin’ in the Rain, to kick off a memorable three-day 100th Birthday celebration for the Patricia in its historic Townsite theatre.
Saturday and Sunday mornings there will be guided tours of the building from 10 am to 12:30 pm, “even the bits you’ve never seen before,” said co-owner Ann Nelson.
In honour of Remembrance Day and of Powell River Company’s care for “its little town on the frontier,” the Saturday matinee program at 2 pm will feature a screening of Reunion in London, 1944, introduced by Lee Coulter, as well as vintage newsreels and cartoons.
Screening of Casablanca at 7 pm will feature traditional pre-show organ entertainment by Jim Dickson and viewers can come back at 9:30 pm to take a fun-filled look at the heyday of the vaudeville circuit that brought fan dancers, comics, magicians, tap dancers, jugglers and singers to the Patricia stage from 1913 to the 1920s, through 1930s and into the 1940s.
The late show features the talented Scarlet Rose, a phenomenal burlesque-style dancer and singer newly arrived in Powell River. Joining her there will be chorus girls, fire spinners, comics, singers and musicians. “Just like old times at the Patricia,” Nelson said. Also under the lights will be the talents of Debbie Dee, Megan Skidmore, Janice Gunn, Walter Martella, Doug Lannigan, Sam Hurrie, Roberta Pearson, CaroleAnn Leishman and her Kit Kat Girls, JP Brosseau, Cris Greenwell, Susan Dixon and friends, Trish Delish and some surprise guests.
“Jim will set the tone for the evening, with his renditions of period vaudeville music on the theatre organ, and you can look forward to hilarious vaudeville schtick from our emcee, Kevin Cook,” added Nelson. “Adult refreshments will pretty much round out the evening and no one has to get up early in the morning to catch the Sunday steamship sailing from the mill wharf.”
Sunday afternoon For the Love of Music concert, continuing the tradition of varied family-oriented music established over the past several concerts, will introduce the Patricia’s newest member of the family—a Beale baby grand piano. Taiga Ball, Helena Sandler, Nicholas Simons, Ron Campbell, Richard Olfert and Nancy Hollmann are going to put “the little darling” through its paces with a program of classical, ragtime, boogie, and popular music, as well as introducing the Sweet Nothings vocal ensemble.
Shelley Halliday is coordinating a heritage fashion parade at intermission, with local models showing off the choicest pieces in the collections of friends of the theatre. “Just like in the days when the steamships would bring the salesmen and their trunk shows to town for the local girls to model at the Patricia,” Nelson explained, “and there’ll be birthday cake for all.”
To lend support to the big birthday party, Townsite Heritage Society will open the doors of Henderson House on Walnut Street from noon to 5 pm on November 2 and 3. “We are so appreciative of the society for doing this as it adds to the historical offering of the weekend and gives people even more reason to come to Townsite,” said Nelson.
Pre-sale tickets are available at Breakwater Books and Coffee on Alberni Street or at the theatre.
Vaudeville show tickets for Friday and Saturday nights are $15 and Sunday’s parlour concert and heritage fashion parade tickets are $10.
