The Cornerstone players hit a homerun yet again with their wonderful and spirited performance of 'We'll Meet Again.'
Not really a play or musical in the conventional sense of the terms, 'We'll Meet Again' could more accurately be described as a musical medley of tunes made famous during the Second World War.
Lacking a direct storyline, the action on stage was instead an endless series of minuets, featuring big band tunes from the 1940s as opposed to the classical dance pieces of the 17th century.
The cast, dressed in uniforms that harkened to the Canadian Army, Navy, and Air Force from those dark days of war, took turns acting out scenes and pieces related to the songs as they were performed.
The stage where the play took place was dressed to look like an English pub, with timber-beamed walls and a mellow brown stucco between.
An upright piano, which provided the musical accompaniment throughout the production, along with a bar, tables, chairs and stools filled out the sparsely decorated set, a Union Jack and a Canadian Red Ensign hanging prominently on the walls behind centre stage.
Many of the usual faces from the Cornerstone Theatre troupe could be seen among those on stage, as well as a few newer faces.
David Slykhuis was one of the prominent people taking the stage throughout the production, dressed for the most part in a white sailor's suit.
While Slykhuis has shown his talent repeatedly over the years as an actor and singer, he proved himself the true 'triple threat' with a series of soft-shoe dance pieces he performed as part of his role.
Another 'sailor' was performed by musician Lane Easton.
Easton, who is often involved with Cornerstone productions, but usually in the band-pit, amply proved his stage value with his wonderful singing voice and acting skills.
Playing off of each other, Slykhuis and Easton proved a wonderful and comedic duo, leaving the audience chuckling loudly at their antics.
Among the more comic songs like 'Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major' and 'Der Fuehrer's Face,' there were many tender ballads presented.
Solo vocal performances by Naomi Holter and Denise Singleton were both tender and well delivered with a sweet delicacy that rang true to the sentiments the songs carried, just as the booming voice of John Bullas did an excellent job with the tune 'On the Road to Mandalay.'
Co-directed by Dianne and Jesse Twietmeyer, both directors took part in the production, their long familiarity with the stage evidenced by their more-than-competent and comfortable stage-presence.
Of particular note and worthy of great applause was the piano work by Lori Brown.
The sole musical accompaniment throughout most of the production (which featured a total of 28 songs,) Brown's playing was perfect throughout the performance (she was replaced once by Wendy Rounce for the song 'Road to Mandalay,) an act which no doubt was a test of endurance for the pianist.
The play, where was written in 1984 by Paul Gaffney, Nancy Turner and Frank Burke on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, was dedicated to the Canadian men and women who had served their country in a uniformed capacity during times of war.
To underpin the commemorative message of the presentation, the Friday and Saturday night production of the play were led by a stew and biscuit dinner, harkening to a common dinner for service persons during World War Two.
Held in Memorial Hall beneath the theatre, the dinner featured a display of wartime memorabilia lent for display by Carlyle's Rusty Relics Museum.
Also on display was a photo album, lovingly compiled by Audrey Young, which commemorated all the men and women from Carlyle who had taken part in the armed services.
As an added bonus, author Marie Donais Calder, who had compiled several of her father's post-war stories stemming from his stint as a peacekeeper in the conquered and divided Germany into two accounts titled "The Other Side of War," and "The Other Side of Fear," was on hand both evenings to sign copies of her two books.
Cast Members - Michele Amy; Dean Albano; Margaret Bell; Lori Brown; John Bullas; Don Carter; Linda Coffey; Lane Easton; Bertha Isleifson; Shannon Klatt; Naomi Holter; Melanie Lemieux; Al Mossing; Wendy Rounce; Denise Singleton; David Slykhuis; Dianne Twietmeyer; Jesse Twietmeyer; Paul Twietmeyer; Cliff Walker; Dorothy Walker
Set - Paul Twietmeyer; Jesse Twietmeyer; Dianne Twietmeyer; Ashton Lisitza; Will Elliott
Lights, Sound and Music - Will Elliott; Doug Waldner
Video - Dennis Coffey
Advertising and Program - Marylin Carter; Don Carter
Bar Coordinator - Shannon Klatt
