Christmas Presence fans may remember a pretty funny scene between a bratty Mary and an awkward angelic visitor - it's on Ron's oblations blog. "You must have the wrong Mary." "Oh. I am sorry." "Everybody makes mistakes here." "No, I make too many. They said this time get it right or don't come back." "Your nose is sweating." Its from a play by William Gibson - not the sci-fi William Gibson, the Pulitzer-winning Miracle Worker Broadway William Gibson who was also a sort of lefty Episcopalian sixties Christian of some sort, and wrote a very strange Christmas show for, if I'm not mistaken, his lefty Episcopalian sixties church, called "The Butterfingers Angel, Mary and Joseph, Herod The Nut, and the Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree." The play was called that, not the church. Anyhow...
Our good friends at Trinity Western have an Artist In Residence this fall, PT alum Paul Muir (Dragons Project, Howard Buys A Motorhome, Saint Joan, etc), and Butterfingers Angel was his directing pick for their fall season. I'm not missing this one. (says Ron Reed)
the butterfingers angel
nov 18-29
trinity western university Christmas can be a stressful time. Especially if you’re the angel in charge of it all! SAMC Theatre’s follows the witless Gabriel on a wild ride that’s full of surprises. Far from traditional, this fast and funny Nativity is a powerful tale of human struggle wrapped up in the clumsiest, kookiest Christmas pageant imaginable.
Onstage at Trinity Western University from November 18 – 29, William Gibson’s holiday hit is officially titled The Butterfingers Angel, Mary & Joseph, Herod the Nut, & the Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree. This imaginative twist on tradition includes a narcissistic Pear Tree, a sinister tyrant king, and “wise” men who are anything but. Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph are hardly a match made in heaven...or are they?
“This show captures the heart of the Christmas story, both the light and the darkness,” said Shelby Wyminga, the BFA Acting student who plays a spunky version of Mary. “Instead of stiff stereotypes, we get a glimpse into the way ordinary people handle extraordinary circumstances, from the naive newlyweds to the donkey who hates her job. Beneath the laughter, this story also explores doubt and danger, hopes and fears—it’s sincere and relatable.”
Paul Muir, a visiting artist from Alberta’s Rosebud Theatre, directs a cast of TWU actors and local children, who guest-star as the cutest collection of talking animals Langley has ever seen. With costumes by Mel Alpe, set by Margaret Toomey, and lighting by Graham Ockley, the visual world of the play is as enchanting as Gibson’s script.
Sponsored by Great-West Life, Butterfingers Angel stars Uliana Akulenko, Ruby Alstad, MacKenzie Cameron, Charlotte Elgersma, Sage MacPherson, Ashlyn McCarthy, Kiara McCarthy, Favour Onwuka, Esther Owobowale, Teagan Plett, Sam Ravensbergen, Steven Simpson, Geoffrey Webb, and Shelby Wyminga. The show is stage managed by Elizabeth Drummond, Courtney Brice, and Mikayla Wust.
Playing October 21 – November 1 at 7:30pm Tues-Sat with discounted Saturday matinees at 2:00pm. Come on the second Tuesday for a Q&A talkback with the cast.
For tickets and information, visit www.twu.ca/theatre or call 604.513.2121 extension 3872.
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