Theatre B.C. North Shore Zone Festival of Plays, Monday, May 2 to Saturday, May 7 at North Vancouver’s Presentation House Theatre. All Performances at 8 p.m. Weekly pass: $90/$75. Individual performances: $20/$18. Tickets and info: phtheatre.org.
“You start with words in a book,” says community theatre veteran Mike Jarvis, reflecting on the incredible creative journey a production takes.
Once a play is decided on, cast and crew are assembled, a rehearsal schedule is set, lines are memorized, sets, lighting and sound are added, costuming and marketing is completed and then finally it’s opening night. The countless hours logged by dedicated volunteers and passionate players pays off and the talents of those involved take centre stage, showcased for all to see.
The magic of community theatre and its ability to bring people together has long captivated Jarvis. “You see youngsters coming in and vying, you see people who always wanted to be in theatre and they try maybe when they’ve retired from business and now they say, ‘I’ve always wanted to do that.’ Of course there is no age barrier because it covers life. The play may cover a retired couple, it may be young people getting married but then they’ve got fathers and mothers. It’s something everybody can join into,” says the Deep Cove resident.
That magic is set to be celebrated in spades next week as Jarvis is among the members of the local theatre community coming together for the annual Theatre B.C. North Shore Zone Festival of Plays, running Monday, May 2 through Saturday, May 7 at North Vancouver’s Presentation House Theatre. Tuesday through Friday will see a different play performed by member clubs of the zone (one of 10 in the province and includes groups from Deep Cove to Pemberton). Productions will compete for a number of awards, ranging from best director to best actor, and the best overall production will move on to the annual provincial theatre festival, Mainstage 2016, being held at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, July 2-9.
“You’re always going there with the hope that you’re going to do well,” says Jarvis, who has been part of the Theatre B.C. North Shore Zone Festival of Plays for the last two decades.
That said, participation is more about the joy of being involved.
“If you win it’s like value-added. It’s a bonus,” he says.
“The beauty is when we get together and meet and compete as such. We compete but each one is individually doing their own show each night and that’s the joy of going and seeing what other groups from the North Shore (are doing).
“A lot of people, we all know each other from over the years and it’s the one time of the year when we do get together. And, you meet new people who are into theatre. It’s great coming together and it’s fun to do,” he adds.
This year’s festival is being adjudicated by Anthony Ingram. The adjudication process offers a tremendous learning opportunity for all involved, both through receiving feedback on their own works, as well as through listening to the critiques of others, offering general tips they can take with them moving forward.
Last year Jarvis served as festival chairman, though this year he’s serving as a member of the festival committee as Relatively Speaking, a production he directed for Deep Cove Stage Society (of which he is also president), is among the 2016 festival contenders.
Relatively Speaking, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, will be performed Tuesday, May 3.
“It’s a fun job,” says Jarvis.
Wednesday, May 4, will see North Vancouver Community Players present their production of Lee Blessing’s Two Rooms, a political drama. North Vancouver Community Players was last year’s North Shore Zone Festival of Plays Best Production. Their entry, Rabbit Hole, also fared well at the Mainstage festival, winning Best Production and awards for Best Director (Peter Zednik), Best Actress (Tamara Prescott and Mersiha Musovic) and Best Set Design (Peter Zednick).
Burnaby’s Well Planned Theatre Company is presenting another work by Blessing, Down the Road, Thursday, May 5. Art a comedy by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, will be presented Friday, May 6 by Between Shifts Theatre from Squamish.
Saturday, May 7 will see the festival awards given out as well as entertainment by West Vancouver secondary students.
“We try to encourage that because that’s the future,” says Jarvis, of the festival’s interest in cultivating and supporting local youths’ passion for the medium. The students are planning to perform a production entitled Crushed.
Jarvis encourages community members to take in the festival performances, offering top-notch productions with theatre groups putting their best foot forward.
“Everybody wants to do the best they possibly can. Really the audiences that come are going to get the full advantage of that. You’re going to see these people at their best,” he says.
