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.
The following is a Private Member's Statement, given by Gerard Jennissen, Flin Flon MLA, on May 10 in the Manitoba Legislature: "Mr. Speaker, along with hundreds of other people from the Flin Flon region, my wife and I were privileged to attend Follies, the musical, this past weekend at the R.H. Channing Auditorium in Flin Flon. This delightful and colourful extravaganza was presented by the Flin Flon Community Choir and the Flin Flon Arts Council. Performing along with the choir were local musicians and musicians from the Brandon University School of Music. The audience was dazzled by the costumes, elaborate sets, great dancing, fantastic music, singing and choreography. All the performers were volunteers who have dedicated endless hours to practising, preparing and perfecting every element of this impressive musical. The large cast was supported by a production crew comprised of seamstresses, set designers, painters, dressers, dancers, and a backstage crew. I want to recognize the director and choreographer, Brad McDougall, whose experience as dance captain of the Follies musical in the West End of London, England from 1987 to 1990 was instrumental in making this production a success. Producer and choral/orchestra director, Crystal Kolt, and music and accompaniment director, Mark Kolt, showed extraordinary leadership in pulling together so many talented individuals. We have been spoiled and come to expect perfection from Mark and Crystal, and they never let us down. Thanks to Lori Lawrence and Linda Allen for their fabulous costumes and Ken Pawlachuk for impressive sets. Special thanks, as well, to Dorothy Liss and Joyce Bongfeldt who created a wave of nostalgia because their talented performance paid tribute to the musical spirit of Flin Flon in the forties and fifties. I recognize the invaluable support given to this show by local sponsors and advertisers. We also appreciate that the Province of Manitoba continues to give annual support to the Flin Flon Arts Council. It is money well spent. It is incredible how a relatively small community in northern Manitoba can present such high quality artistic entertainment year after year. It makes me humble and proud to be able to represent such talented people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
