LP Stage’s ‘Shout’ deserves an audience for final shows

Written By MARNI WALSH

“Baby it's cold outside,” but there is a ‘hot' show on stage at Grace Tipling Hall this weekend and it deserves an audience. 

For anyone who loves the music of the 60's and 70's, LP Stage Productions' Shout will be a fun, musical romp down memory lane. The show opened last week with good music, tight choreography, cool costumes, a very groovy set, and an excellent cast. What's missing? A full house.

LP Stage Productions has been consistently producing Shelburne's best community theatre for nearly a decade. Their many youth productions have gained a stellar reputation by packing Grace Tipling Hall with school classes, and the young cast members' friends and families. Now, Shelburne is invited to come out and see what some of the core members of LP's artistic team can bring to the stage. But hurry, the lights shine on Shout, for the last time, this weekend. 

The five female characters in the show are known by their “mod colours of the rainbow” names. They travel in time from 1960 to 1970, taking the audience on a historical tour of trends, as they share their problems with advice columnist “Gwendolyn Holmes.” An era of awakenings, when the “antiquated world of frippery was dying,” Gwendolyn ends… thankfully… in obsolescence. (The show does have a little mature content so parental discretion is advised.)

Shout's cast of performers includes, LP's mother and daughters' trio, director Alison Port as the hilariously randy “Green Girl;” LP's resident choreographer Kristen Gamache as the romantically confused “Blue Girl;” and LP's Danielle Gamache as the youthfully insecure “Red Girl.” All three strut their singing, dancing, acting and ‘loving it' abilities throughout the show. LP regular, Sarah Alexander brings her soprano voice and comedic talent as the “Orange Girl;” and new comer, Jennifer Payne shines with her compelling stage presence and lovely, deep, vibrato vocal tones as the “Yellow Girl.”

With musical direction by Shelburne's talented Noni Thomas, Shout features harmonized songs by Lulu, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Sandy Shaw, and Cilla Black including fantastic tunes like Downtown, Don't Sleep in the Subway Darlin', You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, These Boots are made for Walkin', To Sir With Love, and many more.   

New this year, a dinner and show deal is available for $45.00 with the Dufferin Public House, right across the street from Grace Tipling Hall. Dinner includes soup or salad, entree, and dessert (drinks, gratuities, and taxes are not included.) To make a dinner and show reservation, call the Dufferin Public House at (647) 393-2102.

If you are attending the Saturday evening performance, the cast invites you to “dig out your best 60's costume for the chance to win a groovy prize.” Last week's winner was Krista Harley. Tickets to Shout are available online through Eventbrite, or at Grace Tipling Hall box office: 519-925-2600, or by cash-only payment at the door on performance dates. Final show dates are this Friday, January 25th at 8pm, Saturday, January 26th at 8pm, and Sunday, January 27th at 2pm. Show tickets are $18.00 for adults and $12.00 for students and seniors. Support the dedicated LP Stage team in Shout - it will “make you want to shout!”