New ensemble hopes to wow with Yuletide show

BY HOLLIE WATSON



The West Island’s newest musical ensemble is poised to make its debut this weekend with a spirited salute to the Yuletide season.

Wowcats — or the Way Out West Choral and Theatrical Society — is the brainchild of founder and director Karen Pearce.

“I had wanted to start up a group for some time,� said the Ile Perrot resident, whose talents have lent themselves to a series of local productions over the years. The longtime member of the Hudson Music Club has also worked with Becket Players, Lyric Theatre, Lakeshore Light Opera, and other notable companies.

Wowcats is comprised of an adults’ and a children’s choir, each with currently with 25 members ranging from age seven to 84, Pearce said. “Many were recruited from other groups I’ve been involved with in the past.�

Based in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Wowcats has been rigorously rehearsing for the three upcoming performances at Christmas Park School in Beaconsfield since late summer.

“We’ve tried to put on as big a production as possible, given the space we have. We’ll have four sets and four scenes, each with different costumes. ‘Christmas Celebration’ will also be a bilingual show; almost half of the 40 or so songs will be sung in French,� Pearce said.

The program features an eclectic mix of sacred and secular music. Audiences will hear such classic carols as Adeste Fideles, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing, as well as festive favourites like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

“One of a couple of recitations we’ll be doing during the concert will be T’was the Night Before Christmas, which will be told to by a senior member of the choir and for which the children will be dressed in their pajamas,� said adult vocalist Colette Ducharme, adding “it will be a very family-oriented event.�

On stage, “we’ve created an old-fashioned Christmas village, complete with a decorated arbour and hanging snowflakes,� said the Pierrefonds resident, whose past involvements include a stint with the popular group Spectrum.

Members gave a sampling of what weekend concert-goers can expect to hear during a carol-sing in Pointe Claire Village last Saturday.

As for what the future holds for Wowcats, “we have a few projects we’d like to do at some point, possibly a book musical such as Cinderella, as well as a Broadway-style revue,� Pearce said.

“But that depends on how we do with this production. It has been a huge, collective effort, a lot of work — but we’ve already sold a lot of tickets.�

To sustain members’ interest, they are planning to hold “some off-season activities, like vocal coaching, a coffee house, or going to other shows,� she said.

The curtain rises on Christmas Celebration this Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 and 8, at 422 Beaconsfield Blvd. People are invited to bring along a non-perishable food item for the Comptoir Ste. Anne food bank. For tickets and information, or to inquire about becoming a member of the fledgling ensemble, call 514-425-5767.