It will soon be time for a Ham Sandwich - with magic beans.
Flin Flon’s longest-running and most popular drama troupe will return to the R.H. Channing Auditorium Nov. 24-25 for Jack and the Giant Beanstalk, a twist on the traditional English fairy tale. The cast includes several children and first-time performers, including Macksimus Weseen, who plays the title role of Jack.
“He’s had to learn an entire script of lines so he’s definitely earned his place onstage,” said Leslie Fernandes, the director of the upcoming show.
“We have a cast of 18-ish with a pile of new faces. It’s always great to see such interest in community theatre.”
The troupe usually alternates between more family orientated shows and shows with a more mature bent, each involving local talent. Fernandes says the group wanted to take on a show that would be entertaining family fare and that would provide a chance for kids to take on big roles. Children are even taking part in backstage roles for the show.
“I wanted to do a show that was inviting to a younger audience. This production is great for kids of all ages and classmates and friends should come and support the amazing kids cast,” she said.
“Ham Sandwich is proud to be entirely local. All of our cast and crew are local and makes this show a true community theatre experience.”
Along with Weseen is a long list of young performers. Iza Plamondon plays the villainous peddler who tricks Jack into trading for the magic beans that get him into his predicament, while Maria Keramydas and Deven Stener will play a pair of old ladies. Others in the cast include Gabby Salamondra, Elizabeth Muldoon, Chloe Peever, Mia Desjarlais, Bridget Wendlandt, Ashton Elliott and Declan Laliberty as some of Jack’s friends and a pair of sailors played by Annika Plamondon and Lacey Svaren - several of those performers are taking to the stage for the first time.
“The cast of kids continue to impress with their confidence and willingness to learn onstage,” said Fernandes.
Other cast members include Ariane Shairp, who hasn’t hit the stage in years, taking on the role of Jack’s mother, and several familiar Ham Sandwich players, including Alain Lachapelle, Lana Leclerc, Mark Wendlandt and Tanisha Weseen. The identity of the giant, the ultimate foe of Jack who may or may not want to grind his bones to make his bread, is not yet confirmed - Fernandes quipped that he “tends to have a bit of stage fright - sometimes too much attention makes him nervous.”
The members of the troupe don’t just stay on the stage - a number of stagehands, 17 in total, have volunteered time and effort in building scenery, sets, costumes and other integral parts of the show.
Fernandes said that people coming to the show can expect to be entertained, to laugh and to be impressed with the work and effort of all those involved.
“The cast and crew have worked so hard to bring this story to life and having an audience fill the seats, laugh along and enjoy the show really is the best part,” she said.
Tickets to the show can be bought through the Uptown Emporium or through the Flin Flon Arts Council website via Showpass.
