by Wiijaa Edenshaw
On December 5, a Christmas concert filled the Howard Phillips Community Hall. The show was produced by Nora-Jane Edenshaw and Naveed Ali, with the annual Christmas play directed by David McLean and Lia Hetherington. About 40 youth took part, whether acting, performing, or working behind the scenes.
MCs Alyssa Walter and Gabby Penafiel opened the evening by introducing the Christmas Riddlers. The duo had the crowd laughing with a string of quick, hysterical jokes before the play began.
The story opened at Yuletide with a grand feast at King Arthur’s court. The Jester, played by Desmond McLean, and his sister, played by Gracie, set the stage. King Arthur, played by Riley Stocker, soon announced a Christmas hunt.
After a quick scene change, the king found himself alone in the forest after chasing a white stag, danced by Sophia Pages. He was confronted by the Black Knight, played by Seth Bellis, who challenged him to a duel. Having left his sword behind, the king was forced to fight with a wooden stick. After an epic and very funny battle, the king lost. The Black Knight claimed his kingdom unless the king could answer one question, “What do women truly want?”
Puzzled, the king asked everyone he could. Woodcutters, peasant women, ladies, knights, and even the audience offered answers, but none were right. At last, the Loathly Lady appeared with the correct answer. The king was saved, and the spell that made the lady loathly was broken.
The story comes from The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer more than 700 years ago. The answer, then and now, is simple. What women most desire is the freedom to choose.
The rest of the program was equally strong, featuring singers Nashville Layson and the duo of Sophia Pages and Freya Murphy, the Candy Cane dancers Hazel Wallace and Phoebe Keir, and Naveed Sings.
Haw’aa to everyone who made this possible, marking the 29th year of this much loved tradition.
