The Periscope Playhouse players have the first performances of their premiere production, "Smart Ass", under their belts. During a Saturday evening viewing, all of the actors appeared to be putting heart and soul into their parts in Patrick Harding’s play which touches on (and sometimes trounces on) politics, romance, community and comedy in a small Port town. All of the actors, Director Jeff Rogers (who also plays one of the roles), Producer Marion Rogers, and everyone else who has supported getting the fledging group off the ground is to be congratulated.

Entertaining Elgin
By Dave Ferguson

As the lights come up, revealing the inside of a country home in various states of disrepair, a hand grasps the top of the couch from behind. The audience doesn’t know what to expect as the groans of agony increase while the person continues to pull themself up. Carolyn Bingham, played convincingly by Molly Kidder, now completely facing the audience, reveals her very pregnant body and is in the throes of labour.

We know from the meticulously set table in the rustic kitchen that a meal might be taking place while we may become witness to a birth.

Sarah Smith appeared with her band, The Joys, this past Thursday (July 19th) in the second instalment of the Canada Southern Concert Series. She smiled, rocked and glowed her way through a crowd-approved performance in the Anderson Dining Hall with the comment, “Thursday night rockin’ in St. Thomas feels good.”

Part-way through the show Sarah noted, “We haven’t done this for a while but we’re going to do this – if you’re a Beatles fan, don’t get mad.” They launched into “Oh Darling Please Believe Me” - the crowd definitely didn’t get mad and most were on their feet by song’s end.

Doing a concert at the CASO station would appear to be a happy novelty for musicians. Sarah introduced “Down and Dirty” with “Let’s do down and dirty at the railway station tonight!” After performing several numbers with her very talented band, she sang a few songs solo, at a slower pace, then asked permission to “rock it up now” to finish the show. She thanked opening act Jason Mercer, Bob the sound guy and organizer “Mark whose last name starts with G”.

Mark Girdauskas is co-organizer of the show and should be congratulated on bringing  high-quality, interesting music to St. Thomas for this series. “Thursday night rocking in St. Thomas” does indeed feel good.

Upcoming are Jim Nestor: Pocket Rockets (July 26th), Robbie Antone (August 9th), and The McCartney Years (September 6th). Visit www.canadasouthernconcertseries.com for more info.

Note: Relish Elgin interviewed Robbie Antone in the 2012 March/April edition. His stellar blues vocals, amazing harmonica playing, and stage presence are not to be missed! 

Entertaining Elgin
By David J. Ferguson

If a title or caption contains the word ‘sex’ or ‘sexy’ it is a sure-fire way to add enough zip, zing and zowie to grab the attention of most. But once you have titillated the naughty side of the mind the onus is now upon the performance to deliver.

The Port Stanley Festival Theatre bares their bloomers in the breeze with the third instalment of the 2012 season as “Sexy Laundry” is displayed on the stage.