The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
A satisfied crowd of 240 people enjoyed Hapnot's annual Dinner Theatre production of Lucky Dollar, Private Eye on Friday and Saturday night combined. Julian Kolt, who starred as Los Angeles' favourite gumshoe, led a cast of 25 Hapnot students in the search for the Pearl of Persia. Lucky Dollar, who hasn't had a case in over two years, finds himself in high demand, and grave danger, after Pandora Sugarland (Jenni Jones) hires him to find out what happened to her strange boyfriend, Throckmorton, who may or may not be dead. Throughout the show, Lucky finds himself slugged and shot at, and pursued by Claire Mintworth (Megan Lewis) and his assistant Florence (Mary Taylor), Lucky's Girl Friday every day of the week. After the boyfriend turns up in Lucky's office with a knife in his back, Lucky is arrested for murder and finds himself battling a murder rap as well as foes Montrose Hogsbreath (Alessandro Strapazzon), Mrs. Mintworth (Heather Pauley), Lieutenant Brush Mohair (David Vandergucht) and Kimono (Julie Rossington). In the end, Lucky figures out that Throckmorton hid the Pearl in Lucky's "California Chicken", an ornament on the detective's filing cabinet. When he announces this to the cast, Conchita (Mandi Kinley) the Mintworth's maid, comes in and demands the Pearl. When Joe Weasel (David Vandergucht) tries to stop her, she shoots him, and Hogsbreath suffers a similar fate. When Conchita tries to escape with the Pearl, Kimono kills her with her throwing knives. See 'An' P.# Con't from P.# Once the dust settles, Lucky gives the Pearl to the Kimono, who saved the day. "The reason we do these musicals every year is because it is such an amazing opportunity for all the students involved," said Lisa Aune, who co-directed the production with Lana Nagy. "Every year, we look at the musical when it is done, it is awesome. When you look at who graduates and who is coming up, the cast is always changing, and there is always talent." Over past two years, there has been concern about declining attendance at the Dinner Theatre production, but Hapnot Collegiate, staff and administration agree that whatever happens, the show must go on, because of the value to the students. "We have to do what we have to do to make sure the students have this opportunity every year," said Aune. "We've cut costs to next to nothing for costumes and royalties to help the show break even, so that the students still have the opportunity to display their talents. The entire point of the Dinner Theatre is that the students get to have the experience of performing in front of an audience. We need the support of the community, because if nobody came to watch it, then it would stop happening. We really appreciate the people that come out every year." Julian Kolt's performance was brilliant, and the Dollarettes (Morgan Pittet, Joanna Majoko, Katryn Kolt and Samantha Cooper) stole the show every time they entered the stage. For the first time ever, the audience was treated to a blooper reel presentation of out takes from rehearsals to conclude the evening's entertainment.
