Carole of the Belles

Unbelievably hilarious. Had a delightful Steel Magnolias vibe to it!!

I could not stop laughing because of all the spot-on passive aggression. It was so awesome.

The handbells played at the end were so gorgeous, my hair stood on end and I began weeping. Hip Hip Hooray!

Christmas in August? Sure, why not! Easily my most favourite show I've seen so far! An absolute riot from start to finish, I look forward to seeing anything with this company, and this show absolutely did not disappoint. Absolutely recommend - the comedic timing on everyone's part was just so, so good.

A note about the specific show I saw (Tuesday night) - it was announced just before the start that one of the actors was being replaced for the performance (we found out after the show that they had been in an accident earlier in the day), and the alternate absolutely stole the freaking show (they went it cold, with zero rehearsal). Yes, it was a non-speaking role, but the character they played absolutely made several scenes. Kudos to this company for pulling something like this off, and it shows just how valuable understudies and alternates are to the theatre - they really do ensure that the show must go on.

First of all, this show had an understudy. On the plus side, the role didn’t have any lines. My yoga teacher Jake was also in this show and he did great as the lovable Carole! I liked all of the characters and I thought that the story was funny and sweet. I liked how they all came together in friendship in the end. However, the BEST PART was when they all actually played the bells… And they nailed it!! Very impressive!

The Silver Belles are Coming to Town

It is certainly beginning to look a lot like Christmas in August! (Considering Alberta’s ever-changing weather, it seems totally normal.)

From the moment you step inside the Varscona Theatre, you are immediately thrown into a Christmas snow globe with classic holiday tunes. This dramedy play, written, starring, and directed by Trevor Schmidt, had the audience laughing within minutes of its opening and ensured they were cackling for the rest of it.

Carole of the Belles begins with Francine (Kristin Johnston), who has replaced the Silver Belles’ leader, Nora, after her bizarre car accident. Things become out of sorts during pre-show rehearsal as the other Silver Belles members enter the stage. It only becomes more complicated when Carole (Jake Tkzacyk) mysteriously appears with warmth and geniality. Though the tension is thick and the banter plenty, Francine still manages to keep everything together until the very end. As the ladies play the handbells, friendship and community ring throughout the characters—and even the audience.

Every character was so distinct and wonderfully portrayed that it is impossible not to want more of them. Jason Hardwick’s portrayal of the snarky and traditionalist Barbara was marvellous. His dramatic zest was the cherry on top. Alongside Hardwick’s Barbara was Violet (Michelle Todd), who is undeniably a diva you do not want to cross. Shelley (Cheryl Jameson), though kooky, is a lovable wackadoodle with a love for astrology. Even though Carole oddly lurks in the background at first, Tkzacyk’s performance shines with his feminine body language and pleasant demeanour. Despite Francine arguably being the most normal out of all the ladies, Johnston’s pure theatrical talent and comedic timing controlled the audience’s attention. Some people may think it is impossible to make a crowd laugh without speaking a single word and without any crazy movements. Trevor Schmidt as Mother Fowler proved them wrong.

So if you love Christmas music, potato salad, and theatre, come down to the Fringe and see Carole of the Belles!

Carole of the Belles has six women interact with each other while getting ready for a Christmas Concert. Though it was set as a joke, I found it really jarring when actors continued to yell lines at Mother Fowler. It seemed unnecessary. I found this joke becoming stale and I was cringing when one actor got close to prepare for the yelling. Overall, the audience seemed to enjoy themselves, and there were laughs. All the cast was amazing, but felt that I missed the laughs that were happening around me.

Varscona is highly raked so really all the seats have great vantage for seeing but, with being so close to the main grounds, there is sometimes sound bleed from outdoor stages. There are handbells played (which may impact some people).

This show left me wanting less repeating jokes and more character development.