spotlight [Py Producing drama is a labor of love for N. Van players | FROM INAUSPICIOUS beginnings in 1947, the North Vancouver Community Players theatre group has waxed and waned through the years, now shining bright and spor- ting a roster of nearly 150 active members. All volunteers, the group -members work from North Van- couver's Hendry Hall, putting on productions from favorites to orig- inal works to bring amateur theatre out of the dark and into the entertainment spotlight. “It's like an extended family," says 16-year group veteran Anne Marsh, who, with her late husband Don, is credited by many members for pulling the company out of its - early 1970s doldrums. “That was a challenge,” remembers Marsh, who got in- volved with the group through a North Shore News ad seeking help with an upcoming play. ‘After a while we got some talent in ~ then. people were getting excited.” Ann Wedding had placed the ad, ! hoping to gencrate interest for the lagging company’s play at that time,. Early to Bed. “TL like when we're struggling,”’ Wedding, 45, says of the group’s early days. ‘You have to think of innovative things to do, not spend much money and put on popular productions.” . Butas well as finding growing success with the group, actress/ director Wedding — like many other group members — found morc.than she expected: her husband-to-be, Wilf. . Now married, the two are still involved with the group, their best-loved team clfort being in Fawlty Towers -— with Wilf direc- ting and Ann playing Basil Fawt- ty’s abrasive wife, Sybil. STEPHEN BARRINGTON feature writer A 1986 cun of that play — fol- of the same name written by and starring John Cleese — repeatedly packed the Vancouver Fast Cul- tural Centre and is marked as onc of the group’s biggest successes. $2 75 partridge per day ing Jung has icome to | Edgemont Village. * The Woodbine inn . _. served good- Chinese * . food.with friendly service to many ’a_ happy customer . throughout the years.. _ The success: of the — _restaurant was. largely _ due to the efforts of Harold Chu, the’ _ owner- manager. Harold's death last year left the Woodbine without an important ingredient — Harold. Now, Harold's good .. friend Wing Jung has stepped in to bring his. brand of hospitality to Edgemont Village. - lowing the British televisfon show . lifteen-vear Community Players veteran Ray Sodden -- a writer, director and actor for the group — Wihe main playwright behind the group's yearly children’s Christmas piay. “Us a labor of love. says Sodden, 44, whose latest play was the co-written Christinas at the OK Corral, his fourth such work for the group. As volunteers, members are not paid -— the rewards are the satisfaction and camaraderic. “H's like pulling your own tecth,"* Sodden says of leaving the Players. “You caa’t do it.” Theatre-goers can see the Com- munity Players latest offerings of Chekhov's The Bear with alter- nating original works Chug and Sunday Morning on Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays, May. 5 to 4 For reservations of ticket infor- mation, call 980-3473 or 687-3529, NINTENDO° GAME RENTALS control module per day $699 Flickers Video VHS & BETA a @ 1431 Marine Dr North Van, Norgate Plaza 988-3394 23 - Friday, Aprit 29, 1988 - North Shore News NEWS photo Mike Wakeli THE : SECRET of the North Vancouver Community Players’ success ure enthusiastic volunteers and smash-hit plays. The Players’ recent produc- tion of Educating Rita was a case in point. Pictured above are actors Christie Dunlop as Rita and Paul Kloegman as Frank. . -KAMEROS The Finest of Greek Cooking APRIL SPECIAL GREEK PLATTER ron wo S45, 95 Greek Salad, Kalamari, Meatballs, Dolmades, Spanakcpita Souvlaki, Satziki,. Homous, Moussaka, Pita Bread } 2422 MARINE DRIVE, WEST VANCOUVER ‘ « Reservations, Ph. 922-5751 _ We cater to groups. Wing, with his many years of experience at » such restaurants as the -. Three Greenhorns, Trader Vic's (with *Harold) and The Treehouse, knows. how » to make his customers happy. $0, come to Woodbine, Wing’ Ss on Woodbine, ~ and sample our - delicious Chinese ‘Cuisine and Wing's hospitality. You wil! leave with a happy belly and asmiling face. Wing's on. Woodbine, the tradition continues. Harold would be - pleased. “all dinners for 2 weeks. Till May 30th. (food orily).