An intimate cafe setting is the stage for another edition of the Phoenix Cafe this weekend.
The Columbia Phoenix Players will be presenting the Phoenix Cafe III on Friday and Saturday at the St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Trail.
Continuing its tradition of community theatre, the players will present nine short plays and sketches.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. On Nov. 23 and 2:30 p.m. And 7:30 p.m. On Nov. 24. Tickets are $10 and available at various locations in Trail and Fruitvale.
The plays were chosen to suit the different acting abilities of the Greater Trail troupe with plays lasting seven to 20 minutes in length.
“It instils confidence in many, especially the younger players and it completes a bucket list for others,” explained Jean Wylie of the Columbia Phoenix Players.
“Every year we lose members, the youth go on to colleges and university often to study the arts and Phoenix Players gives them the opportunity to see if life on the stage would be viable.
“We are very proud to have given a step up to many former players and helped and encouraged them to reach their acting goals.
“This year we welcome three newcomers, two of whom are accomplished actresses and a youngster new to our group. We were also happy to welcome back a former Phoenix player who left the area for a time and has returned not only to take on a lead role in one of our plays but also to direct a couple of sketches involving the teens.”
The idea of staging the Phoenix Cafe came to life two years ago. Wylie explained that younger members expressed a desire to meet regularly to work on their acting and perform small plays.
“We asked the kids if they would like to do a presentation of the stuff they had been working on for their friends and family, an informal night we would call “Phoenix Cafe” – sit their folks around little tables, offer them home baked goodies and such.
“It was hugely successful. The following year we did another “Phoenix Cafe II” but on a slightly bigger scale and again the people flocked in.”
“We decided to go for “Phoenix Cafe III” but this time on an even bigger scale so we do three separate performances instead of a one night only. Folks sit around nice tables and for a donation have an option of enjoying home made refreshments during the interval – all in a cafe–like atmosphere.”
For more information on the Phoenix Cafe or the Columbia Phoenix Players contact Jean Wylie at 250-367-6365.