Come for an evening of laughs and entertainment. Here On The Flight Path is the last play of the season for the Vagabond Players. Four talented actors bring the show alive: John Cummings - Ken Fynn; Faye - Alex Wilson; Angel - Julia Grace; Gwen - Colleen Bignell.

Read the article Local actors taking flight from the local New West newspaper The Record to get a feel for the play and it’s main character.

Almost forgot, Suzanne, Kathy and myself are backstage again and we’re dressed as movers! Nothing special other than changing the scenes in front of the audience (eeck!). Working at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queens Park has been a delightful experience and I highly recommend volunteering at your community theatre.

A comedy by Norm Foster
John Cummings is a lonely and divorced back-porch philosopher. Over three and a half years, three very different women occupy the apartment next door. As John reflects on his relationships with neighbours Fay, Angel & Gwen, he shares his unique views on everything from poets to sex.

Friday the 9th of May saw Evelyn Strange being performed at the White Rock Players Club as part of the 2008 Greater Vancouver Zone Festival. Evelyn Strange went away with:

Best Supporting Male Actor
Best Supporting Female Actor
Backstage Cooperation

We all managed to survive the day and the performance. Only a few problems occurred like me dropping and ‘breaking’ one of the props which was quite successfully glued together. Oh, that was such an embarrassing moment but we all held together. Being part the backstage and scene change crew it was quite an honour to have been recognised with an award.  Well done to all involved!

I enjoyed the experience and am now working on Here On The Flight Path as backstage crew once again. This time we’ll be dressed as movers and will actually be seen by the audience.

While I wait for a response from Canadian Immigration regarding my permanent residency application (fingers crossed they like me) I am not permitted to work in Canada. Therefore, I am still doing work for people in the UK and unfortunately it isn’t full time. To keep myself busy I’ve been volunteering for various organisations in and around New Westminster.

Senior Services have been a part of my volunteer duties since January 2008. My tasks include grocery shopping and a runner for meals on wheels. Lately I’ve been doing more meals on wheels than grocery shopping. When delivering the meals you meet some interesting characters. Most of them are quite friendly and respond well to my cheerful nature.

There was one lady who didn’t want to receive her meal because it was on the wrong day. It took me a while to persuade her that I was already here so she might as well have an extra meal for the week. I entered her home and was engulfed by this terrible stench of human urine. I tried to breathe trough my mouth to avoid the smell, but then my taste buds didn’t like that either. I unpacked her meal, wished her a good day and headed for the door. Unfortunately, she positioned her wheel chair right in my path. She wanted to chat (Oh no, not now I can’t take the smell)! I explained that there were many others just like her waiting for their meals. She gracefully let me out the door. I have quite a sensitive nose and the smell of urine wasn’t pleasant.

With meals on wheels the secret is to deliver the meal as quickly as possible, be friendly and smile. Being friendly can get me in trouble as they want to talk but the majority understand that others need their meals too.

Yesterday was the last night of Evelyn Strange at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queens Park, New Westminster. Myself and two others, Kathy and Suzanne, volunteered backsatge, there were quite a few scene changes that needed our attention. It was a very good experience and I have decided that I will offer my services for the next show Here On The Flight Path. The Vagabond Players have been around since 1937 and it’s an honour to be contributing to local performing arts.

Evelyn Strange isn’t over yet, in the month of May the Vagabond Players will be performing at White Rock Players Club as an entry into the Greater Vancouver Zone Festival. The festival runs from the 4th of May to the 10th of May 2008. To find out more about festivals in your area please visit the Theatre BC website.