Cove takes centre stage |

THE TWG theatre companies that
work out of Oeep Cove’s Shaw
Theatre ara still pinching them-
selves.

Martin Millerchip

NOW REPORT

First Impressions Theatre and
Deep Cove Stage have been in the
attractive little building by the side
of Gallant Avenue that also houses
the Seymour Art Gallery and the
Deep Cove Historical Saciety for
over two years now, but both
proups still remember what it was
ike to be homeless.

. “We've never really had a
home,” says Michael Smith, one
of the founding members of First
Impressions. “We've worked out
of Presentation House and last
year was our JOth year with the
good people at james Cowan
Theatre in Burnaby for our major
Christmas production.”

Smith says the group takes its
name from its first production at
Presentation House 11 years ago:
an original show written and per-
formed by young kids called First
Impressions.

Deep Cove Stage also owes its
name to its beginnings some 17
years ago in the old community

all that was demolished to make
way for Lions Manor.

: Longtime member Ann Booth
recalls the Boxing Day opening of
the group’s first pantomime: “(st

ANN BOOTH

Born: Northumberland,
England.

Claim to fame: Diplomacy.
Lifetime objective: Keeping
calm.

Favorite focd: Seafood
Favorite actor: Sean
Connery; “I like the twinkle
in his eye.” ;
Why I like the North Shore:
The people are varied, stim-
ulating and friendly,

Favorite Nerth Shore recol-
lection: Sitting at the end of
the Government Wharf at
6.30 am. and watching the
Cove come to life.

"BONELESS CHICKEN |
89

was) a nightmare that prevented
the enjoyment of a family
Christreas for a lot of people, but it
was surprisingly successful, and
we have been doing it ever since,
although we now open a week
before Christmas.”

it was Booth who conceived of
the idea to use the $60,000 the
Lions donated when the commu-
nity hall was demolished as seed
money for a cultural centre to
house both theatre groups as well
as the Seymour Art Gallery.

“The two groups are indepen-
dent of each other, bul we have
pulled together a season for the
theatre that is managed by the two
of us,” says Booth,

Both groups are optimistic
about their future and the level cf
talent that is being attracted to
their recent productions. Deep
Cove Stage just won Best Overall

Production and a host of other

awards at the provincial finals of
the Theatre B.C. Festival.

MICHAEL SMITH

Born: Oxford, England.
Claim to fame: Awards for
technical excellence in the-
atre sound and lights.
Lifetime objective: Help oth-
ers to be happy, die net a
burden to anybody and pei
along with peaple on the
way. A full house now and
again would be nice,
Favorite foed: Eileen’s.
Favorite actor: Kevin Costner
Why I like the North Shore:
“1 like the mountains and the
water. | five at the base of
one and on the beach of the
other.”

Favorite North Shore recol-
lection: “The first time | dis-
covered the Tomahawk
Restaurant.”

| NEW.

| Ready
0

| drink}

With Salvador's, all you have to do
is add the ice and garnish for the
perfect Margarita every time.
Enjoy Salvador's Original Gime)

or Strawberry—now available

at your Government Liquor Store.

It's so easy...so delicious!

ie

NEWS photo Clady Goodman
ANN BOOTH of Deep Cove Stege and Micheei Smith of First
Impressions run their theatre companies independent of aach
other, though they share space at Deep Covo’s Shaw Theatre.