White Rock Players Club’s production of The Lion In Winter was judged top in a field of three in last week’s Theatre B.C. Greater Vancouver Zone festival at the Coast Capital Playhouse.
Adjudicator Scott Swan selected the play – James Goldman’s dark comedy of bitter family rivalries in the court of medieval monarch Henry II, directed by Dale Kelly – as “outstanding production” of the festival at Sunday’s awards gala.
That means it will go on to Theatre B.C.’s Mainstage Festival, June 30 to July 7 in Kamloops, with a chance to be judged best community theatre production in B.C.
The show, also singled out as “outstanding visual presentation,” beat the Vagabond Players’ Kitchen Witches, directed by Jacquollyne Keath in New Westminster, and Raving Theatre’s Home Again, written and directed by David Blue in Vancouver.
In a move that has provoked some debate online, Swan, a professional theatre director and instructor, chose not to give individual awards for ‘best’ in other categories, instead recognizing individuals for “outstanding contributions.”
Individuals recognized in the leading-role category in The Lion In Winter included Ben Odberg and Lori Tych, who were joined by Nigel Vonas and Sue Sparlin for Home Again.
Elyse Maloway was cited in the supporting-player category, along with Matthew Fedorowicz and James Rha for Home Again, and Ryan J. Johnson for Kitchen Witches.
Both Kelly and Blue were cited for “outstanding contribution by a director.”
Other Lion In Winter cast members – Colin Fotherby, who battled in medieval armour, and Rosemary Schuster, Marlowe Ferris and Reilly Olexson, who made scene changes an integral part of the action – were recognized for “outstanding contribution by an actor,” along with the Kitchen Witches’ Howard Dai and Rob Larson.
George Kopf, of Kitchen Witches, was recognized for “outstanding contribution by an audience member.”
Kitchen Witches, by Caroline Smith, is a comedy about duelling television cooking show hosts, while Home Again is a drama about a man’s return to his Prairie homewtown for his father’s funeral, 18 years after his parents disowned him because they discovered he was gay.