At the end of April, Regina Lyric Musical Theatre presented my fantastical play-with-music, The Music Shoppe, in four performances at the Shumiatcher Theatre in the MacKenzie Art Gallery.
The response was fabulous–people loved it, gave it standing ovations, told me how much they’d enjoyed it, etc.
However, only a limited number of people were able to see it during its short run…which is why I’ve now put the video of two of the performances on YouTube (two performances because one role was double-cast).
The Music Shoppe is set in a fictional Regina music store, presided over by the mysterious Mme. Blacke, and home to a even more mysterious mechanical pianist that can play any piece of music put in front of him. Rumour has it that if you come into The Music Shoppe and sing a song chosen by Mme. Blacke, accompanied by The Pianist, she can help you with your relationship problems…lovers, family, friends. Over the course of the play, three couples, young, middle-aged, and retirement age, discover the truth of those rumours…but as the one hundredth anniversary of the store nears, The Music Shoppe is in danger of closing forever, unless Mme Blacke can convince her young assistant to take her place and keep the magic going.
You can read more in this story from the Regina Leader Post.
Carolyn Speirs plays Madame Blacke, while Miranda Sheepwash takes on the role of Leanne. Ben Redant (also the musical director) plays The Pianist. The youngest of the three couples, Chris and Emma, are played by Nathan Sgrazzutti and Hannah Dove. The second-youngest couple, Sarah and Jim, are played by Lise Moore and David Hopkinson, and their teenaged daughter was double-cast, being played by Ilana van der Merwe (April 25 & 26) and Geneva Sirett (April 27 & 28). The older couple, Mildred and Frank, is played by Elizabeth Popowich and Lyndon Bray.
Have a look and listen. I think you’ll enjoy it! Links to both recorded performances, April 26 and April 28, are below.
