The 2005 season has been a stellar one at Jubilations Dinner Theatre with 4 very strong shows. They cap it off in spectacular fashion for the holidays by taking us aboard the “Not-So-Much” for a journey with the Pirates of the North Saskatchewan!
The story is unique in that it blends The Princess Bride with Pirates of the Caribbean, along with the addition of some original characters. Before the show we are all guests at the Fantini Museum for their new pirate exhibit. Once the lights go down, we go back in time to the maiden voyage of the “Not-So-Much”. Engaged couple The Dreaded Pirate Roberts (Alvaro Gonzalo) and Princess Belle Buttercup (Alison Harbridge) are aboard traveling up the North Saskatchewan River when the evil Pirate King Barbados (Jeremy Coulter) and son Jacques (Jon Manning) hijack the ship. Soon after, Barbados’ witch sister Black Betty (Darah Burdett) and her daughter Rhiannon (sister Ashley Burdett) show up, as does third sibling Captain Jack Partridge (Murray Farnell). Amidst some killer classic rock songs comes a high-seas adventure that everyone will enjoy.
The first thing that will jump out about the show is the diversity of talent. Gonzalo is a phenomenal singer – his duet of Open Arms with angelic Harbridge will give you goose bumps. The Burdett sisters have their own brand of magic on stage, Manning is hysterically funny and purely entertaining to watch, while Coulter makes Pirate talk seem easy, not to mention his killer rocker voice. What most people will focus on however is the incredible performance by Farnell, whose interpretation of Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow character is dead on!
“I don’t remember how many times I watched (Pirates of the Caribbean), probably 10 or 15 times,” Farnell told GayCalgary.com. “It wasn’t memorizing a lot of things, once you get the air that Johnny Depp is trying to put on, which is very flowy and constantly in motion, it wasn’t studying anything specific it was just the general character. The hardest thing was getting the voice down. Jeremy and I used to live together and I had the mirror set up next to the TV and was doing the make up in the mirror, and it would be paused on one of Depp’s facial expressions. I was practicing in the mirror and Jeremy walked in, looked at me and just shook his head and said ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’”
Coulter as well had quite the challenge in tackling the confusing and often backwards pirate language of Barbados.
“Writer Cory Wojick and I had discussed it, and he wanted Barbados to be the stereotypical pirate mixed with a bit of the sea captain from The Simpsons. It was a case of going it over and over again. There are so many words in there that are just twisted – they make no sense to me and I’ve been saying it for seven months,” he said before Farnell added “I remember when we got the script and were reading through, and there is an opening bit with Roberts, and Jeremy stopped three quarters of the way through the line and said ‘Holy shit… I’ve got to do an entire show like this?’”
Another difference in this particular Jubilations show is the blend of established characters and original ones, something both actors felt added tremendously to the production.
“This is my ninth show and I have done so many of them where everyone in the show has to emulate some well-known characters. To be able to mix three established characters with four original characters that we can do what we want with gives us a lot of freedom,” Coulter said.
While the show is going to receive rave reviews, it’s important to also comment on the food. Jubilation’s kitchen team has put together a great dining experience. The amusingly named “Heave-Ho! Fish Below!” teriyaki apricot salmon was moist and delicious, while one of the other members of our group went with the delicious vegetarian “Saskatchewan Sushi.” For desert both the “Yaar! Me White Gold” truffle and the “Crow’s Nest” raspberry chocolate cake were a great way to cap off the meal.
The other thing that is great about Jubilations is that it is interactive dinner theatre, with a talented Additional Cast helping us along the journey, and audience members being dragged up on stage. We discovered this first-hand as poor Rob from GayCalgary.com was hauled onstage to be a somewhat uncoordinated dancing zombie. Needless to say, he won’t live that one down anytime soon.
The Pirates of the North Saskatchewan is an absolute treat – a must see. The cast is quick to comment on how special this show has been.
“It has been an incredibly positive show to be part of. The dynamic of the cast is great and the crowds have responded really well,” Farnell said. “Also, the people who work at the theatres such as the adcast and technicians, everyone who has had anything to do with the show has nothing but good things to say about it. I am very happy to be part of it.”
Coulter summed up his feelings that will be reflected by many. Having seen the show, I know I can’t help but agree.
“This is the best show I have been involved with at Jubilations and the most phenomenal show the company has ever put on. Everything from the cast, script and the people who work at the theatres has been amazing. There have been shows with better singers or a better story, but the overall package with the sets, script, music and cast, this is the most spectacular show I have been a part of and that people have seen here. It’s been the most positive experience of my life.”.
Jubilations Dinner Theatre Presents
The Pirates of the North Saskatchewan
November 11, 2005 – February 5, 2006
1002 - 37th Street SW (Westbrook Mall)
Phone: (403) 249-7799
