Shadows and Light

The last show of the year at the Evergreen Theatre was exciting in more ways than one. First of all, we always finish the year with a special show featuring an award winning performer (and ensuring a sell-out performance) and this year this performer was accomplished singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor accompanied by Paul Campagne. Second, the theatre has undergone a major renovation – including new seats and seating arrangement, new lighting equipment and upgrades that include a fire escape and balcony handrail.

Last, but by no means least, is the new format in which this photo gallery is being presented: in High Definition video format for those with high speed connection. Here you can see the photographs documenting the performance in HD, even in full screen if you chose by clcking bottom right on the full screen icon (for very fast connections and computers). (For those who have slower connections or older computers, you can still see the galleries in the old format, by clicking here .)

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpxaoSmGPRU

Connie’s performance was a great finish to the season and her impression of our venue and audience was expressed in her describing it as “Shangri-la”. Quite apart from the appreciative packed house and the lovely new seating and great Evergreen ambience, was the extraordinary weather that night. It can sometimes be a concern for December shows in Nova Scotia, but this night was positively balmy with temperatures of 18º C, so that the doors were open all evening! Theatre goers were standing outside during the intermission, enjoying the night air and the beautiful full moon above the trees.

As I said at the outset, our season’s finales always feature an outstanding performer and Juno award winner Connie Kaldor was a popular choice evidenced by the fact that the show was sold out well in advance. She was accompanied by her partner, a seasoned musician in his own right, Paul Campagne and the two gave us a wonderful evening’s entertainment, full of great humour, warmth and musicianship. You can hear the title track from Connie’s CD “Sky with Nothing to get in the Way” on the photo gallery.

Among the songs that they played that night were “Picking up the Pieces of My Heart” as well as “Saskatoon Moon” and “Wood River” that are wonderful examples of her skillful and sensitive portrayal of prairie life for which she is acclaimed. This must surely be one compelling reason for Connie’s being named a member of Order of Canada. Canada’s highest civilian honour in 2007. ‘The Order of Canada’ recognizes “a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nationâ€?.

Connie and Paul, thank you both so much for ending our season with such a flourish on that special night in Evergreen Theatre history.

Ellie