In the southwest area of Manitoba there are a lot of retired teachers and school staff and several times a year we get together for lunch and talk over old times and new adventures. Often at the lunches we have a guest speaker or entertainment for enjoyment or education as most former school employees have picked up the habit of becoming lifelong learners.
Once a year, the group decides on a major bus tour by a vote of all the members for a road trip adventure. Over the years we have traveled all four points of the compass from Winnipeg to Regina and locations north and south.
This year the decision was a new adventure - that of going to a live play production at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg, to see the popular musical, Mamma Mia that takes place in a small hotel on a secluded Greek island.
Since the trip was a major event, it was important to get a full bus load, to keep the cost down. The solution was to invite the friends and family of former school staff that put a total of 44 people in the group. That would also include the bus driver Tom Whittle, who, in a strange turn around would be driving many of his former teachers from his school days in Virden.
As for the mode of transportation the group was able to get the Virden hockey team bus that had all the comforts of home. The bus made a few stops between Virden and Brandon, but after that it was straight on to Winnipeg.
In the hot August sun, on an air conditioned bus, our tour leader was group member Kel Smith assisted by Beth Allison. During the trip in, our time was filled with games, movies and jokes by Kel and Beth.
After lunch in the city, it was off to Rainbow Stage in the beautiful Kildonan Park.
The park was filled with families and groups enjoying a Sunday afternoon picnic and games in the well treed park.
The block of tickets put aside for us was great as we got used to the warm temperatures in the stage area that is now covered with a large dome. The play had two main acts with several scene changes in each.
The blue windows and doors on the white background buildings captured perfectly the Greek island culture.
The storyline itself is a mixed up multigenerational love story with lots of great one-liners that was supported by some great choreography. The diving flipper dance scene was a great crowd pleaser as were the wonderful singing skills whether as solo selections or the chorus line.
And, those great pop songs of the 70's by ABBA just got your feet tapping or your hands clapping.
About the only down-side were the occasional jets that few overhead from the Winnipeg airport;, and, to my surprise the large number of people who showed up late for the play.
However, there was another point about the production that was pleasing, in that there was great ethnic diversity among the performers and a good mixture of body types that made the play more realistic and fun.
The strong voices of all the singers were aided greatly by a great sound system and even the seats were comfortable. In the last scene, at the wedding when all the loose ends were tied up and the finally closing songs were sung, you would think it was over, but it was not. After the bride’s bouquet was thrown out to the audience, the actors came off the stage to sing and dance in the aisles of the playhouse with the audience becoming very involved. But wait there would be more, they would all return to the stage that was transformed into a 70s era Disco dance club, complete with a mirrored disco ball and lots of colorful satin jump suits on the main actors who ended the day with the smash hit of 1974, “Waterloo” with everyone in the house on their feet and singing along.
To put it all in a nut shell, it was a fun and happy play that left you in good spirits, something you would not get from a movie.
As Shakespeare said “The play’s the thing”.
The bus got back just after 10 p.m. and many were wondering where would we go next year. Said Kel Smith, “We saw Rainbow Stage at its very best and I believe our group of travelers would agree. It was a fun day for all, with everything taken care of; and if you have the opportunity, go see Mamma Mia, it will lift your spirits.”
Southwest Region Retired Teachers and friends stop at Days Inn Portage la Prairie for a meal, on their way to Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg.
Rainbow Stage performance of Mama Mia, Aug. 13. With the Retired Teachers group in the audience.
