Port Alberni’s Portal Players Dramatic Society will be headed to the provincials of community theatre for the second year in a row after winning Best Production at Theatre BC’s North Island Zone drama festival.
The festival was hosted this year by Qualicum’s ECHO Players. At an awards ceremony on May 18, adjudicator Leon Potter presented the Portal Players with several awards for their production of David Harrower’s Blackbird, including Best Production.
Blackbird, which portrays the uneasy reunion between a woman and the man who sexually abused her when she was a child, was directed by Robinson Wilson and produced by Liane Fitzpatrick.
Wilson received nods for Best Director and Best Graphic Design, while Cydney Pedersen won Best Actor in a Female Role and Darien Edgeler won Best Actor in a Supporting Male Role. Thirteen-year-old Sara Curtis won Best Performance by a Youth or Newcomer.
“I am so proud of the Portal Players Dramatic Society winning the North Island Zone Drama Festival again this year,” said the show’s producer Liane Fitzpatrick. “We live in a very talented zone and compete with unbelievable talent from the other clubs.”
The cast, crew and production team will now be moving on to the provincial Mainstage Drama Festival, which starts on July 6 in Fort St. John.
Unfortunately, the costs to send the group to participate with the best of B.C. will be “astronomical,” said Fitzpatrick.
“As a non-profit society who owns and runs our own Capitol Theatre, funds are always tight,” she said. “We have the daunting task of raising $25,000 to cover travel, accommodation and transport for our cast, crew and set to Fort St. John. We are asking for donations from the community. No donation is too small — every little bit helps!”
The Portal Players will be holding a fundraising dance at The Capitol Theatre on Saturday, June 7, featuring rock ’n roll band Time Well Wasted. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at www.atthecapitol.org. There will be a special dance floor in place, as well as seating for those who would rather sit and listen to the show.
The Portal Players have also set up an option to donate through their website for people who aren’t able to attend the fundraiser. Visit www.atthecapitol.org and click on the link on their home page.
