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Creative Partners presenting ‘In a New Light’

June 2, 2016   ·   0 Comments

A life begins at the beginning and goes on from there. A disabled person is not. He/she is a viable, vibrant human being who does not need nor desire your pity – your friendship, maybe, but your whole hearted acceptance, for sure.

This is the message of In a New Light: the shiniest, brightest, most fun you can imagine. A combination of dance and stories, illuminated and “choreographed” in that imitable way the Creative Partners dance, like no others, which started yesterday evening (Wednesday) and is running this evening at 7:00 and tomorrow (Friday) at 11:00 a.m. at the Orangeville Town Hall Opera House.

Using the screen that can be lowered above the stage for display of other material – photographs and words, using light globes and lighting, also black lighting and luminous props, this production proves that all light has its purpose and virtue.

Although the overall presentation and the commentary are written by Jane Ohland Cameron, the monologues in the body of the show are either entirely written by the speakers or written with their input. The show is about the lives of this cast of challenged adults, starting with childhood.

Poetry and song, nursery rhymes and popular music that you love the best are all part of this amazing stage event. What makes it so very special is the peculiar type of talent of the performers. It would be a real challenge for any other actor to learn this natural lack of inhibition. The audience laughs and cries at the same time for its beauty and genuineness. Some guidance, perhaps, some suggestion as to the steps or, at least the direction in which to go, is offered by Janee Gowing, but no choreographer could design the reality of what these dancers do.

“We dance from the inside out,” one of them told us, which goes along way to understanding why it looks as it does: wonderful.

The comedy is just as spontaneous, therefore so funny. There is a script but we suspect that Ms. Ohland Cameron is ready for variations on her original words.

Jayde Lavoie, as a young actor, whom Theatre Orangeville audiences will remember from her many performances on the main stage, is the narrator for this show. Great to see her back with all her joy and energy. She leads the on stage direction of the performances, digging into the routines with enthusiasm but keeping the light on the stars of the show. Some of the performers require assistance and this is very smoothly, unobtrusively applied by the volunteers.

There are only eight monologues, each very short but each with a message that might make you reconsider some things about your own life or the lives of those you know. Food for thought.

John talks about his pride in his native culture; Barb tells about her marriage to George and you maybe have not heard of this criteria for falling in love; Kelly – a real comic in the show – gives us the goods on Tim Hortons; Chris works at Mono Amaranth P.S.

Adam reminds us about the importance of individual family members – he had two grandfathers who were completely different from each other but let him tell it; Pat defines friendship in another way; Sarah learned great things from being out of the Box (last year’s show). Mike and Glen combine in a duet monologue about their own friendship and (ahem…) meeting girls.

The madcap music trio are the Shirley Street Backstreet Boys with Kelly, Adam and John.

Adam and Jayde offer a somewhat novel take on Romeo and Juliet, just in  case you were worried the classics would be ignored.

We have left the last word to Kassondra. No spoilers here but, in her monologue, she speaks on behalf of the so-called disabled: “I am possible.”

Some tickets are still available for tonight and there are tickets for tomorrow’s 11:00 a.m. show. Do yourself a favour; do the young people in your life a favour: see this production.

Friday is a PD day at most schools in the area, so this is the chance to take your youngsters to a show that will really ring their bells. Tickets at the Box Office, 87 Broadway; telephone 519-942-3423 and online – www.theatreorangeville.ca. Or, as a last-minute impulse, at the door.

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