KENOSEE LAKE - Once again, the Moose Mountain Players delivered a stellar performance with their energetic and entertaining tribute to the 1960s Woodstock event.
In a musical that spanned three acts, the cast of 20 performers, under the direction of Ben Dubois and Robyn Roy-Hampton, brought the spirit of Woodstock to Kenosee Lake with Everything's Groovy.
Nightly performances from Nov. 21-23 were sold out. The show kicked off with Ben Dubois portraying Bob Dylan, performing a witty ditty that referenced local characters and landmarks, setting the stage for the fun that followed.
The plot centered around the organizing of Moosestock, a musical festival that, much like Woodstock, was plagued by attempts to shut it down. The event, to be headlined by the Maple Bugs, was being organized by Mort (Brian Rutten), Travis (Gerard Hengen), Alice (Teri Field), and Muriel (Brenda Daku).
As the festival plans unfolded, the cast brought to life a series of comedic interactions with Mrs. Porter (Loreen Wakefield), the local municipal regulator, and conservation officer Wimple (Chuck Huber), both of whom sought to halt the unlicensed event. Boomer (Darren Swanson) was on security detail to help promote and keep the show on the road and treated the crowd to a rendition of Born to be Wild. The Girl with Flute (Tamara Chalmers) chimed in on occasion to enhance the spirit of flower power.
The Muffin Man’s prized Acapulco Gold plant, a symbol of the era, was smuggled in and planted in the berry patch by talent seekers Evelyn Prickly and Norman Kellog (Robyn Roy-Hampton and Ben Dubois) in a bid to undermine the festival and poach the Maple Bugs for another event in the Oxbow valley. However, after sampling the Muffin Man's delicious offerings, Mrs. Porter had a change of heart. The show ended on a high note with peace and love prevailing, and the event was granted the green light to proceed.
The audience was treated to a series of great musical numbers, with the cast performing classic period tunes that had many in the house singing along. Many attendees embraced the spirit of the '60s, showing up in colorful Woodstock-era costumes, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The Moose Mountain Players once again proved their talent and dedication, with countless hours spent organizing, rehearsing and preparing the elaborate set and costumes.
A big thank you goes to the Moose Mountain Players for their hard work and passion in bringing such a lively show to the stage.
