When it comes to The Polar Express, the young singers at St. Albert Youth Musical Association (SAYMA) are prepared to duke it out with movie critics any day.
While the critics panned it as being “short of yuletide cheer” and “an overblown letdown,” the SAYMA singers love it by a majority.
In fact, 15-year-old Katya Mierau, employing a dash of artistic license, wrote the script for this year’s Christmas concert, aptly named The Polar Express. It’s playing at the Shriners’ Hall tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Even the parents are completely gung-ho. Two couples, Maureen and Don Barr and Beryl and Bob Shoults have spent a humungous number of hours building a locomotive from cardboard and Coroplast.
“It’s wonderful for ad hoc theatre. It’s lightweight and portable and we put it over a mobility scooter. It toodles around the hall and the kids follow it and it gets us from here to the North Pole,” says music director Criselda Mierau.
Kerry McPhail-Hayden, Sir George Simpson’s former drama teacher, has taken over directing duties, shepherding elves, waiters, penguins, reindeer, stars, snowflakes and northern lights.
SAMYA, once a part of St. Albert Singers, is composed of 60 children and teens divided into three choirs. In the 17-song program, one of the showstoppers is Hot Chocolate sung and danced by waiters serving the beverage on the train.
In this version, the main character is The Girl who simply does not believe in the magic of Christmas. To get her in the mood, the choirs sing to her Christmas in Three Minutes, an abridged version of 23 carols sung in three minutes.
Parents might frown on A Cold in the Nose, but kids love blowing their nose in a sleeve, Mierau says. “It’s disgusting and gross and it so appeals to that age group.”
One of the show’s musical highlights will be Believe, a song originally sung by Josh Groban for the movie. “This particular piece is a ballad about how if you just believe things can happen.”
And when Santa and Mrs. Claus appear, they will be pulled down the centre aisle of the Shriners’ Hall in a sled pulled by miniature horses raised at Hollyhock Meadows.
Accompanying the singers are Duane Smyth (piano), Verla Carter (keys), Rodger Weir (drums), Charles Stolte (sax) and Sarah Huisman (flute).
“This concert is all about the magic of Christmas and believing in that magic.”
Tickets are $12. Call 780-418-4184.
Preview
The Polar Express<br />St. Albert Youth Musical Association<br />Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.<br />Shriners' Hall<br />14510 - 142 St.<br />Tickets: $12. Call 780-418-4184
