If you need a little stress relief during the busy holiday season, look no further than the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular, playing until Dec. 20 in Courtenay, Cedar and Nanaimo.
This annual dancing and singing extravaganza, now in its seventh season, is full of colour, beauty and joy, and it’s no surprise why this has become a Christmas tradition for local families.
This year’s production features a cast of 14 talented singers, dancers and musicians performing everything from traditional Christmas carols and holiday readings to Queen songs and a James Bond theme medley. It’s a terrific mix of Christmas-themed pieces and non-holiday pieces.
The minute you walk into the Cedar Community Hall, you are transported into a winter wonderland. The hall is transformed with colourful sparkling Christmas lights, wreaths and garlands. You’re already in the Christmas spirit, long before the show even starts.
Live theatre can be a great escape, and as Felix Leblanc, who is singing in his third Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular this year, says in one of the readings: “The audience knows this is the last place they can be heard … the audience, singers, dancers, musicians, we’re all a little more real together than we were apart. That’s the ticket, and that’s what the ticket’s for.” It’s a chance to clap along, sing along to your favourite Christmas carols and get lost in the magic of live theatre.
The two-act Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular moves through a variety of different numbers, broken up by readings, a Christmas quiz for the audience and jokes. The song and dance numbers are all performed in front of a fantastic live band, and the costumes are incredible in each scene. A couple of my favourite moments were a beautiful, moving dance to the theme from Schindler’s List in the first act and a Charlie Chaplin-themed dance/comedy to start the second act. The Queen medley that closed the first act was a ton of fun and seemed to be a big hit with the audience Sunday night, and the James Bond medley in the second act was very well done, with great dancing, fog and a powerful performance of “Skyfall” by soprano Jaclyn Nestman. Including an audience singalong in the program was a fun touch, and the Michael Bublé medley was full of energy and seemed to also be a crowd favourite.
Producer/director Katy Bowen-Roberts, who grew up in Ladysmith, came out to sing “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Over the Rainbow” near the end of the show. She has a beautiful voice, and it was great to see someone who works so hard behind the scenes out on stage.
The finale lived up to the production’s “spectacular” name. I left with a smile on my face and a feeling that I can’t wait until next year’s show.
And I know I wasn’t the only one.
Click here for show times and more details.