Theatre CBS’s Christmas compilation designed to get you thinking
By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Just what is the meaning of Christmas anyway?
Fans of Theatre CBS will be given more than an inkling this month as the five-year-old troupe tackles one of the biggest questions of the season during a three-night run at All Saints Parish Hall in Foxtrap from December 11 – 13.
Director Gord Billiard said the compilation of sketches that compose What is the Meaning of Christmas? should evoke nostalgia in audience members, as well as a reflection on what Christmas means to everybody.
The main feature of the compilation will be the one-act play The Christmas Tree by Norm Foster. It centres on a young man and woman arguing over who should get the last Christmas tree on a lot, each lying to try to convince the other of their case.
“It’s a light comedy that looks at loneliness, I think, and connection through Christmas,” said Billiard.
Other stories include O. Henry’s classic short story The Gift of the Magi performed as a radio play. It touches on selfless sacrifice for the one you love; scenes from Little Women, which will explore traditions; letters written by Francis Church and Mark Twain assuring children about the existence of Santa Claus, which will explore belief and whimsy; and a song performed as a recitation about the Christmas truce during WWI. What is the Meaning of Christmas? will also feature songs including “The Meaning of Christmas is Love” by Edsel Bonnell.
The stories are framed by an overarching plot inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In What is the Meaning of Christmas? the focus is placed on Whoville after the Grinch has ransacked the town. It follows Cindy Lou Who as she tries to find the meaning of Christmas by reading books containing the stories that make up this compilation. Cindy Lou will be played by 12-year-old Cate Nugent. A member of the Shallaway Youth Choir, Cate will sing “Where Are You Christmas?”
“I find working with the play very fun and I think it’ll be a very fun experience for those who watch it,” she said.
Between cast and crew there are about 25 people involved in the production, not including an art class from Queen Elizabeth Regional High School. These are the art students of Veronica Nugent, a fine arts teacher and member of Theatre CBS. It’s the second Theatre CBS production her students have been involved in. The 15 young people are mainly involved in set production, such as making a ransacked version of Whoville and the giant books containing the tales Cindy Lou reads.
“I like that I get to bring something I enjoy as a passion myself, like theatre, to my students and getting to share that with them,” said Nugent. “They get to do something that actually is used outside of Queen E and is for a community organization. They get to see how these types of things work. They might never have experienced this otherwise.”
Nugent said Theatre CBS provides an important opportunity for people of all ages who want to participate in theatrical productions without having to rely on programs and groups in St. John’s.
Nugent plays an announcer in The Gift of the Magi.
Billiard said Theatre CBS has been overwhelmed by the support it has received from the community.
“We have been floored, overwhelmed, by how many people have reached out wanting to advertise in our program and support us and tell us how great we’re doing and stuff like that,” said the director, who is also serving as the group’s president this year. “It’s really been heartwarming to get that validation and confirmation that what we’re doing is appreciated.”
Tickets for What is the Meaning of Christmas? can be purchased at theatrecbs.com.
“I think the biggest thing is the variety of perspectives,” Billiard said of this year’s show. “The opportunity to think about Christmas from many different perspectives and angles and points of view.”