THE CONCERT FOR THE COMMUNITY, BY THE COMMUNITY - IN THE BEGINNING

When Andrew and Robert Currie planned their first fundraiser, shortly after opening their main street Gravenhurst music business, the plan was a simple one. Bring together musicians with widely diverse backgrounds, to play side-by-side with their fledgling music students. It was thought, and rightly so, that experiences would be shared between them. While they didn’t necessarily join each other on stage, backstage, and over a slice of pizza, before the show, the mentorship occurred like magic. The senior musicians saddled up to the rookies, and any stage-fright was quickly evaporated by bolstered confidence. And if you ask the veteran players about experiences at our fundraisers, they’ll admit to being quite inspired by the courage of the young talents to face the audience, and perform for a good cause no matter how bad the jitters.

There were a few musicians who thought the lads were nuts to attempt to mix junior capabilities with the accomplished performers, who would surely get bored with the pace and mistakes of their juniors. Admittedly, there was room for doubt, such an intermingling of abilities would take its toll on the audience and the cast itself. Funny thing though but all the perceived and actual dysfunctions of such a variety show worked out as “improv” entertainment......and if there was chagrin out there, well it didn’t stop any one of the shows from carrying on......sometimes with a wee limp, but always to a rousing ovation after the final group finale. And when a performer did complain, well, we just thanked them for their help for the particular fundraiser, and refrained from bothering them again. Funny how these things go, that some of the musicians not satisfied with the event, were first to sign for the very next variety show.

Part of the success of the event is the Opera House itself. There is no question that it is the Opera House, in Gravenhurst, that is most accommodating for a large Christmas-time production.....and there’s something about the patina of the place that makes it important and necessary to let it have a roll in our hometown Christmas celebration......as it has had for so many decades. While we have had a very difficult time covering the rental costs of the facility, as have many other events at the historic venue, by not selling tickets, and having to pay an extra percentage onto the rental amount, we can save enough from donations-at-the-door, and sponsorships, to provide the Salvation Army Food Bank with a larger donation. It requires a little more leg-work and sponsorship solicitation, from our dear business friends but the event runs without financial burden. But they’ve been determined to use this great entertainment venue regardless of the paperwork and hustling for donations, and hope to have many more similar events throughout the year.

The event isn’t highly polished. It isn’t supposed to be. What it is however, is a good neighbor event, that is more about kindred spirits and charitable hearts, than entertainment efficiency. It will have its flaws but it will have its successes.......and the reality that at the end of the night, old musicians and young will heartily pat each other on the back, the audience will leave feeling Christmas has been duly celebrated, and the next day food will be trucked over to the Food Bank as a result. Now that’s a good feeling in a good hometown!

We are pleased to have so many friends in the entertainment business who willingly give up their time to help Andrew and Robert stage this annual Christmas Variety Show.....Saturday, Decemeber 18th, at the Opera House.....beginning at 7 p.m. (Donation by cash or non perishable food item....seats are on a first come basis). If you wish to be recognized as a sponsor of the Night Before Christmas show, please let the boys know.....you can drop into Andrew Currie’s Music and Collectibles, (in the former Muskoka Theatre building, opposite the Opera House).....and you can drop off, in advance, any non perishable food items you wish to donate to help the Salvation Army.

As complicated as it can get for organizers, including mom and pop working behind the scenes, it’s still the same simple plan we began with quite a number of events ago. Good neighbor musicians and good neighbor patrons make a wonderful and inspiring partnership. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors afterall. Not just at Christmas but throughout the rolling year, as Charles Dickens might have penned, of what warm spirits can achieve in a short span of time.

Merry Christmas folks. See you at the concert.