The floodplain is alive with the sound of music as Richmond’s Gateway Theatre goes with the spiritual uplift of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1959 classic for the holidays. Director Chris McGregor has put together a huge, handsome production with a cast of 28 plus 10 piece orchestra and a perfect Maria in Alison MacDonald.

MacDonald has a sweet, effortless voice and really knows how to sell a song like “My Favorite Things,” avoiding the saccharine and getting a big laugh on “schnitzel with noodles” without even trying. Just as importantly, she knows how to play the combination of irreverent spunk and good-girl conformity that makes Maria an ideal pre-feminist heroine. Too free-spirited for the nunnery but beloved by the mother superior, she liberates the seven von Trapp children from their father’s sick militaristic discipline then marries him. And intrepidly leads the family over the Alps to escape from the Nazis.

There’s a lot to like about this show, especially in the long first act that contains all the great songs: the title number and “My Favorite Things,” “(How Do You Solve a Problem Like) Maria,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and “Climb Every Mountain.”

Ranae Miller as Liesl, the oldest von Trapp kid, and Sayer Roberts as her boyfriend Rolf do especially nice work with “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” which also showcases Dawn Ewen’s choreography.

The other six children (Bridget Esler, Rachel Harrison, Gabriel Schwartz-Dardick, Libby Seltzer, Michael Wilkinson and little Taylor Dianne Robinson) are sufficiently cute and sing well enough that the various versions of “Do-Re-Mi” are as delightful as you hope they’ll be. The strong, sympathetic Mother Abbess (Colleen Winton) and her nuns provide the show’s most beautiful singing in their Latin choral chants. Kudos to musical director Allen Stiles.

As Captain von Trapp, Ian Butcher acts much better than he sings. Allan Zinyk plays the Captain’s friend Max, comic moocher and choral producer, at his scene-stealing broadest.

This Sound of Music features excellent production values. Drew Facey’s versatile set transforms easily from the nunnery to the von Trapp home. He also uses old-fashioned flats very imaginatively. One moment they hold projected images of the Austrian Alps; the next, simple red drop-cloths turn them into the walls of a Nazi concert hall.

Carmen Alatorre has provided dozens of vivid period costumes and Sharon Huizinga’s lighting is effectively moody when it needs to be and appropriately unobtrusive otherwise.

Although the second act feels anti-climactic and the conclusion a little rushed, both in the script and production, this is a fine family show for the holiday season and a great opportunity to get in touch with your inner glockenspiel.

Jerry Wasserman

DO
Some baking with the kids
Why? Because baking with kids is fun (as long as you let them lick the spoon AFTER you’re finished). Double up the recipe and freeze some of the dough. You’ll need it next month for holiday emergencies.

GO
Visit the new VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor’s Centre
Why? Because this stunning new centre includes a cafe, Canada’s largest horticultural library, exhibits, a garden shop, fun for kids and more—and is actually a certified ‘living’ building.

GET
Some of your holiday shopping done ahead of time—just buy a few gifts now for the hard-to-buy-for people on your list
Why? Because then you only have to buy the fun ones—like toys for your kids—closer to the holidays.

PLAY
Tomato
Why? Because it’s a funny, simple game that will have everyone in stitches. It’s fun to play at the dinner table, too. Everyone sits in a circle, and one person is ‘It’. Each person takes a turn asking ‘It’ a question. The only answer to every question can be ‘Tomato’. The first person to make ‘It’ laugh wins a turn at being ‘It’. Questions can be: ‘What color is your hair?’ ‘Tomato.’ ‘What do you brush your teeth with?’ ‘Tomato.’ You get the picture.

READ
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
Why? It’s a compelling story of three girlfriends in the midst of their own personal midlife crises as they find themselves exploring sex, confronting marriage and adjusting to the roller-coaster reality of life. And we’ve got 10 copies to give away here, along with a guest blog post from the author herself.

Read more ideas from Savvy Mom…..

Great family fun in Surrey.  Go on a train ride and meet up with Santa.    Go early, as rumor has it this Santa likes to tip his drink while the train is getting boarded.  You be the judge.

Meet Santa Claus

There is no better way to get into the holiday season than a parade.  Come on out and see Santa and so many others bring in Christmas 2011.  I will be tweeting as the parade is on so be sure to follow me on twitter and I can let you know exactly what is happening with updates and pictures!

@strongmommy2 use hashtag #xmas2011

PARADE DATE & TIME:

• Date: Sunday, December 4, 2011
• Time: 1:00 p.m.

BEST PLACES TO WATCH:

With a long parade route, there will be great viewing along the entire route. 

PARADE ROUTE CHANGE:

The parade will start at West Georgia Street and Broughton (at 1:00 pm), travel east along West Georgia, turn north on Burrard and finish at Burrard and Cordova.

COAST CAPITAL SAVINGS CHRISTMAS SQUARE:

• 10:30am to 1:00pm
• Located on Thurlow Street between Georgia and Melville

Come out and join in on the family fun pre-parade festivities! There will be live entertainment on the main stage, Decorate a Gingerbread Man, Write a Letter to Santa and much more!

WHAT TO WEAR:

• Go for classic west coast style (fleece, waterproof jackets and comfortable waterproof  footwear).
• Dress in layers to keep warm.
• Remember that umbrellas will unfortunately block the view, so please leave them at home.

PARADE ETIQUETTE:

Secure your spot on Santa’s nice list! Follow these Rogers Santa Claus Parade protocols

• Respect parade officials. Your safety and that of your family is paramount. Obey all instructions to avoid Santa’s naughty list!
• S marks the spot – someone else’s that is! Never move or occupy an empty chair. This curbside spot has been reserved.

CONSIDER OTHERS:

• Wear your rain gear. Umbrellas block the view.
• Be nice. Please allow those in wheelchairs front row, curb side viewing of the parade. Also, allow families with children to sit in front. We short people appreciate it too!
• Say “excuse me” or “I’m sorry” if you bump or step on someone in the crowd.
• Don’t smoke.
• Property…a respectful reminder: climbing on or sitting atop anything belonging to Citytv, Canada Post, dumpster companies, et al is a definite don’t!

LOST AND FOUND:

At the end of the day all items collected will be transported to the head office of Rogers Retail. To claim an item, please call (604) 270-9200.

So this year was her lucky year.  In her words:

We arrived at 630pm and the line up was super long already.  It was however, the last Saturday before Halloween, so to be expected.  The line up moved very quickly and they even had creepy actors in the line to give a small peak of what is to come.  So I found the time went by very quickly.  It took about 45 minutes before we finally got to go into the Haunted Barn.

It was way scarier than I thought it would be but so well done.  There were actors yelling at us, popping up at us, props that you think aren’t real but really are, special effects with video’s and so much more.  I don’t want to ruin it for you but this is a must see for Halloween as it was the scraitest thing ever.  I can’t wait to go next year!

A BIG huge 10/ 10 for me.

So there have it. So if you want to be super spooked this Halloween, you now know where to go!

Happy Halloween!