(PRINCE GEORGE) The crinoline and cummerbund-clad kids from the Cariboo hope to give all those Cosplay characters something to Marvel at when the Phoenix Tour performs at Northern FanCon on May 5.
The troupe’s 19th Century costuming will be a Stark contrast to the legions of Game of Thrones and Avengers fans when they take to the floor at 1:30 p.m. at the CN Centre in Prince George. But Theatre Royal Producer Richard Wright says that’s a good thing.
“We’re not exactly Guardians of the Galaxy, but we’re proud to play the role of Champions of the Cariboo,” says Wright of the Newman & Wright Theatre Company.
“Our super power is using music to generate hope. To me, that’s got more clout than Thor’s Hammer or energy than Iron Man’s suit.”
The Phoenix Tour is touring Cariboo communities hard-hit by of back-to-back, record-setting fire seasons with a musical message of hope and resilience. The troupe is performing “Mrs. McGinley’s Gold Rush Variety Show.” Set in 1869, it has songs and dances suitable for the entire family — and any Cosplay characters who want to tap their feet (or tentacles).
In the ensemble cast, Amy Newman plays Mrs. McGinley, Simon Paterson is Major Downey, Theo Budd is Isaac Birch Fisher and Lucy Sim plays Miss Dolly Johns. The tour kicked off May 3 in Wells. Other shows will be held in Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, Valemount and Ashcroft.
James Douglas, Public Programming and Global Media Development Lead for Barkerville Historical Town and Park, said the inspiration for the tour was a Back to the Future episode based on how Cariboo communities have responded to adversity in the past as well as the present.
“Barkerville and many Interior communities have always shown their resilience by rising from the ashes like the legendary Phoenix bird to rebuild and thrive. Barkerville rebuilt after the fire of 1868 and this year, we’re celebrating the 150th anniversary of the rebuilding of the Theatre Royal,” said Douglas.
“I think it’s important to remember that the real super heroes are the people of the Cariboo who have faced incredible adversity over the last two years and bounced back.”
The Phoenix Tour is sponsored by Barkerville Historic Town and Park, Barkerville Gold Mines, the Community Resilience Through Arts and Culture program (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture), the New Pathways to Gold Society (NPTGS), Frog on the Bog Gifts, the Mountain Thyme Guesthouse and the St. George Hotel.
Communications support for the tour is being provided by NPTGS, a non-profit organization committed to developing local economies in the Hope to Barkerville corridor through heritage tourism development, First Nations reconciliation and Multiculturalism. For more information, please visit the NPTGS website.