CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

THERE WERE EMPTY SEATS - SOME DISAPPOINTMENT - FUN FOR THOSE WHO CAME - AND THE TREE LIGHTS CAME ON - A WONDERFUL LIFE

IF EVER THERE WAS A PROVIDENTIAL MOMENT, IT WAS THE OCCASION, AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF OUR "NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" CONCERT, AT THE OPERA, LAST EVENING, WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER WILDLY……..FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME…..AND SON ANDREW COMMENTED FROM THE STAGE…."IT MUST BE THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST." WHILE THERE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A GHOST AT PLAY, THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECTACULAR THAT HAPPENED WHEN THIS MATTER WAS FINALLY RESOLVED BY ELECTRICAL INTERVENTION. AT INTERMISSION, A SHORT TIME LATER, AUDIENCE-MEMBERS WERE STEPPING OUTSIDE INTO THE BEAUTIFUL SNOWY, MUSKOKA AIR, AND GUESS WHAT? "THOSE TREE LIGHTS ARE BEAUTIFUL, AREN'T THEY?" "IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL WITH THE CLUMPS OF SNOW AND THE WHITE LIGHTS." AT THAT MOMENT, SPONSORS OF THE SHOW DASHED OUT OF THE OPERA HOUSE, TO FIND, HOW GLORIOUS AND FESTIVE…..THAT THE FORMERLY UNLIT, "OUT OF ORDER" CHRISTMAS TREE, WAS NOW FULLY ILLUMINATED. LIKE THE MOVIE, "A WONDERFUL LIFE," AND ALL THE "WONDERFUL MORAL STORIES TOLD THIS TIME OF YEAR AT HEARTHSIDE", TO CELEBRATE THE POWER OF POSITIVISM AND HUMANITY, THE TREE WAS A BEACON OF CHARITY AND GOOD WILL. WHILE IT WASN'T ON FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE SHOW, AND SOME FOLKS SUGGESTED AN "OUR OF ORDER" SIGN BE HUNG FROM ITS BRANCHES, THIS CURIOUS TURN OF EVENTS, WAS THE MOST PLEASANT GIFT OF THE SEASON…..TO GUESTS OF OUR SHOW, ORGANIZERS, HELPERS, AND THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THE TOWN, LARGELY IGNORING THEIR OWN CEREMONIAL CHRISTMAS TREE, HAPPENSTANCE MUST HAVE TAKEN OVER…..OR THERE'S ONE OF SANTA'S ELVES THAT NEEDS A PAT ON THE BACK. BLESS YOU.

The Night Before Christmas Concert went well, and we truly can't express in words alone, our debt of gratitude to all the stage helpers and volunteers, including performers, young and old, who made this show one of our best yet. We were so pleased, to once again, have Fred Schulz at the helm, especially during this special 110th anniversary recognition, for the Opera House, originally opened in the spring of 1901. It was most appropriate for Fred to have officiated this, as it was his efforts, not so long ago, that gave the building a new lease on the future, after a necessary refurbishing, at a time when the town had to seriously considered whether the Opera House was worth saving. Fred thought so, and you can see the pride on his face, looking out into the audience, beneath the magnificent arches, that the effort to save and restore the building was worth every dime. He did a fabulous job reading "The Night Before Christmas," and it has become a tradition for our show. It was under Fred's mentorship that both Andrew and Robert, and their mates Luke Thompson, and James Luciabelo became stage crew of The Music on the Barge summer series of concerts on Gull Lake. So Uncle Fred is very important to our own family traditions, here in the realm of year round Gravenhurst entertainment.

Our boys Andrew and Robert were delighted by the progress of the show, and the fact that the only glitch in the evening, came with the flickering house lights…….but that was tempered by news….."the tree lights are on……the tree lights are on!!!!!" We were able to raise $450 as a cash donation to the Salvation Army Food Bank, plus several big containers of food donations. The boys will still be accepting cash donations at the store for the rest of this coming week, in case you weren't able to make the Christmas Show.

If there was any real disappointment, it was with the number of seats that weren't occupied, for the by-donation event. The performers had worked for months getting ready for the fundraiser, and there is nothing finer for any actor, dancer, musician, than to look out on that house floor, and see more patrons than empty seats. Especially at a time when we hoped to see some of the folks who represent this town, and the business groups who frequently complain about economic shortfalls, and Gravenhurst falling behind neighbor communities. It would have been wonderful to have our community representatives, and service clubs, show up to see a really dedicated bunch of citizens, of all ages, plugging along at work and play, this time of the joyous year. But of course, it wasn't imperative to show up. Of course not. Yet when there are those familiar critical voices, and editorials about what Gravenhurst doesn't have…….well, I will gladly remind them of opportunity missed. And that the re-building of a community, to once again have faith in itself, begins in places like this……the Opera House, for example, where stake holders in this "hometown" pride thing, can find reason to "move forward," as some overseers like to say, and appreciate the real benefits of community doing what it does best……simply stated, being neighbors enormously pleased by the history we have earned…….and being prepared to do what it takes to keep it alive for the benefit of future generations. History in a book is just that!

If you believe from the paragraph above, that our show was in any way less than what we had planned, or expected of our work ethic to promote and produce, you would be off base a trillion miles. There isn't an entertainment promoter on earth that isn't disappointed by the show of empty seats at curtain-opening. But that will never dampen our enthusiasm to carry-on with our traditions……because it is our own undaunted way of demonstrating by example….that we will not surrender a Christmas tradition, or give up on our mission to help the less fortunate in our community, so capably handled by the Salvation Army. We are so thankful to have them in our midst, helping at this time of economic difficulty. Even if we can't attract more than the immediate family of our performers, don't think for a moment, we are so discouraged, that we won't be on that historic, marvelous Opera House stage again……carrying on a 110 plus year heritage of community entertainment……for a good cause.

Our boys, and our family, and I'm sure I speak for all those who worked so hard to pull this event off, wish everyone a Merry Christmas…..and of course, a Happy New Year. And boy oh boy, what a nice, bright, sparkling Christmas Tree now glowing in the Opera House square.