Summerlea United Church
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The Invitation, the Musical
Lyrics by Howard Clark, Music by Stephanie Coward-Yaskiw
Apr 27 & May 3, 2008 at Summerlea
May 31, 2008 at John Abbott College
Posted Apr 29, 2008

The musical "The Invitation", by Howard Clark with music by Stephanie Coward-Yaskiw, is about a group of people who are invited to build the Kingdom. The Kingdom building party is not quite what many of them expect; however they do gain a sense of what is necessary to make the Realm of God become a reality.

Musicians Piano - Ann Sutton Drums - Kate Miller Bass Guitar - Lee Heppner Page turner for Kate - Meaghan Ashley Luttrell

Cast Michèle Bitauld - Mac Howard Clark - Frankie Ruth Heim - Chris Trish Higgins - Nate Mary Ellen Houde (Janet Smart April 27) - Pat Susan Ippersiel - Lou Jeannine Morin - Bobby Jane Percy - Cam David Pryce - Sam Janet Smart (John Osborne May 31) - Shorty

Solo Roles John Osborne: Tom Selga Vitols (Ariadne Lih May 31): Joy

Angels Marion Golden - Optisister Mary Guynan - Pessisister Vince Nudo - Humourister Dominique Reid - Pacifister

Production Staff Musical Director - Constance Osborne Stage Director - Howard Clark Costumes & Props - Kim Blatherwick Stage Crew - Peter Maklan, Robert Lee Videotaping - Anders Yates Graphic - Judy Coffin

Following are some photos from the April 27 presentation (pickable to see a larger version).

The Summerlea Youth Group very ably led the service leading up to the April 27 performance, and Connie got some help from Meaghan, who later turned pages for percussionist Kate Miller.

Composer Stephanie's effervescence bounced through the music played by Kate Miller, Lee Heppner and Ann Sutton, Summerlea's Music Director, Connie Osborne, directed (photo shot during dress rehearsal).

The play begins with the ringing of a cell phone, and postman Howard Clark bounding across the stage (thus the fuzzy photo). Jane Percy, "I've got mail!" (photo shot during rehearsal).

It seems a number of folks received invitations (some by laptop) to build the Kingdom of God, but there is some confusion as to how to go about it. The angels watch with concern as it is decided that construction tools are a good start.

Mac (Michèle Bitauld) and Bobby (Jeannine Morin) feel that some kind of plan is necessary. Perhaps they should look for clues.

Sam has a plan, but it doesn't get too much enthusiasm. Then Tom (John Osborne) finds a Book of Stories, which he discusses in song with Lou (Susan Ippersiel) and Joy (Selga Vitols) while Chris (Ruth Heim) approves.

Now another story comes to the fore, discussed in song by Shorty (Janet Smart) and Tom, then enacted (a couple of times) by Shorty, Bobby and Lou. Now Nate (Trish Higgins, Cam (Jane Percy) and Mac (Michèle Bitauld) consider yet another story.

Meanwhile, Joy finds the whole thing a bit boring and falls asleep. This gives the angels Humouristor (Vince Nudo), Pacifister (Dominique Reid), Pessisister (Mary Guynan) and Optisister (Marion Golden), the opportunity to whisper some thoughts in her ear.

Awake from her dream, Joy heads over to discuss her discoveries with the others, who listen with interest and decide there may be something to these ideas.

Tom and Joy promote the newfangled ideas in song.

Now the whole gang jumps on the bandwagon,

and the finale brings hope for a Kingdom of God.

And in long-standing Summerlea tradition, a cake celebrates the success of the play. Peter, Bryan and Leslie Maklan do the honours while some hungry folk look on, and we get another shot of composer Stephanie before she heads back to Ottawa.

Our thanks to Howard and Stephanie for creating this musical, and to Connie and all the players, both on-stage and behind-the-scenes, for the many hours of work that they have spent to bring us this joyous presentation.

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