With all the hustle and bustle of the yuletide season, St. Albert residents have a few chances left to relax and reflect on what makes holidays special.
Citadel Theatre’s A Christmas Carol plays until Monday night, and you don’t want to miss this classic holiday tale of redemption, especially St. Albert thespian John Kirkpatrick’s “ghostly” performance.
As theatre critic Anna Borowiecki put it, “While MacDonald carries the weightiest role, a great many supporting actors also shone. Former St. Albert actor John Kirkpatrick is explosive as Marley, Scrooge’s mentor and the first spirit to visit. A man, bowed by the weight of his folly, Marley is shackled to his failures and doomed to travel eternity trapped in chains of his own making. Kirkpatrick develops a detestable man that also appears pathetic. And when he shouts in tortured tones ‘save yourself,’ we truly feel his anguish.”
A Christmas Carol, at Citadel Theatre, runs until Monday, Dec. 23. Tickets start at $35; Call 780-425-1820 or purchase online at www.citadeltheatre.com.
For those who want a musical and energetic break during the holidays and don’t mind a short drive, the Festival Place Players will performing Andrew Lloyd Weber’s insanely popular Cats! over the holidays, featuring several talented local performers.
Borowiecki said “... the musical’s razzle-dazzle, great tunes, sleek costumes, magnificent makeup, superb choreography and themes of salvation tend to speak for itself. Three St. Albert actors have purr-loined a role in the Festival Players production. Maria Kolasis Harrigan is Demeter, a sassy, sophisticated queen. Meaghan McKinstry plays Exotica, a sexy cat that teases and taunts while Josh Languedoc slips into the skin of the notorious cat burglar Mungojerrie.
Cats! is offered by the Festival Place Players to Dec. 30, at Festival Place 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park. Tickets range from $15 to $36. Call 780-449-3378 for information.
Last but not least, possibly the biggest celebrity to visit St. Albert in 2013. Be sure to wave hello to Santa once again this year on Christmas Eve as he bids everyone Merry Christmas on the St. Albert Trail pedestrian overpass Dec. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. stated one Gazette reader who helps Santa with the event.
“It does cause quite the noisy response from hundreds of cars below,” said St. Albert resident Rob Murray, who helps Santa with the event.
“Lots of fun for him too,” Murray added.
Murray said this is the third year in a row that Santa has agreed to head south out of the North Pole early and spend the day in St. Albert. Santa also hands out lots and lots of free candy canes to everyone, especially kids.
Murray said Santa has promised to be there, regardless of the weather.
When you see Santa above St. Albert Trail, give a honk.
