Snow Dance a cozy tale of winter warmth, journeys
by Andrew Wagstaff, The Amherst Citizen
Elmore (Lee J. Campbell), (from left), Mitch (Michael Ferguson) and Marty (Michael Chiasson) are among those story stayed at Mitch's coffee shop during a blizzard in Daniel Lillford's Snow Dance, which is in its world premiere production at Ship's Company Theatre until Aug. 24.
Winter. In this part of the world, it's a time of bitter cold, boots caked with a snow/salt slush, and snowstorms brought on by a seemingly vengeful Mother Nature.
But it's also a magical time of sorts, especially in smaller communities, where people sometimes find themselves gathered around a woodstove to wait out a blizzard. That feeling of being safe from the cold and the darkness can inspire tales of extraordinary people and unexplained occurrences, especially near the holidays.
One such tale that belongs around any kitchen stove is Daniel Lillford's Snow Dance, the world premiere production of which kicked off at Ship's Company Theatre on Friday, Aug.8.
In Snow Dance, veteran actor Michael Chiasson gives one of those endearing performances he has either delivered himself (Earl in The Mystery of Maddy Heisler) or elicited from others as a director (The Americans Are Coming). As Marty (or Ratty, as his friends call him), who operates a coffee shop in small town New Brunswick, Chiasson is too busy with chores like filling the coffee pot and the stove to notice that he is living in the past.
But Marty is just one of several complex characters in this play. There are no small parts - a Lillford trademark. Lee J. Campbell is cranky hardware store owner Elmore (Moley); Sherry Smith is Amy, his seemingly normal girlfriend; Michael Ferguson is Mitch (Badge), the RCMP officer with a few worries on his mind; and Ingrid Rae Doucet is Jodi, the stranger who shows up after putting her car in the ditch.
The five end up storm stayed at the coffee shop for the night, and all put forth their best efforts to comfort the stranger and help her through the ordeal. By the end of the play, however, we see that she is the one helping them.
The play, which has received readings at theatres in three different countries, is a simple story of small-town relationships and of love and loss.
Directed by Ship's Company artistic producer Pamela Halstead, the play is funny without being goofy, sad without being a downer. It also moves at a quick pace, running for less than 90 minutes, without an intermission.
The production values of the show are top-notch with the set design of Corey Mullins and the lighting design of Bruce MacLennan creating an environment as warm and inviting on the inside as it is cold and frightful on the outside.
Snow Dance is a tale of ordinary Maritimers sharing an extraordinary experience, and finding their answers in it.
The climactic scene in which the play derives its name from is a sight to behold, and will make you want to dance along.
Snow Dance plays at Ship's Company Theatre until Aug. 24.
