Annual Variety Show Brings Folks Together

After weeks of planning the annual Peoples UMC Variety Show took place in Ellis Hall on Friday evening, November 4. Planning by Merrill, Pastor Tom, Chris and Rosemary led to a show that displayed the willingness of many to perform and raise a little cash for the church as well. Rather than charging an admission price donations were willingly accepted and the proceeds were augmented by goodies sold by Becky and Jan in the kitchen.

Those who participated in the show this year extend our thanks to Debbie Cole for playing the piano for many of us. Another individual who we extend our thanks to is Wes Splettstoesser who provided the sound system and the video taping of the show. Lest we forget that Susan Angell was our resident financial counselor and collector.

Dick Matthews served as the master of ceremonies and regaled the audience with jokes in his inimitable style.

 For the second year in a row the show began both in the first act and in the second with the smooth sounds of ukuleles and song presented by The Flukes, a group that meets out of the library in Falmouth. In the first half of the show they sang and played three numbers and in the second they followed with another two numbers. We certainly do appreciate their involvement and in this instance being led by Fred Wade.

Lin Arnold and Paul Obie were the resident Blues Brothers and mixed their musical presentation up with ukulele, guitar and harmonicas.  Aaron Matthews brought his own music and sang in both the first and second acts country music. Dick Miller played a polka medley on his electric synthesizer. Pastor Tom brought back memories of a bygone era by singing a number from a Broadway stage play. Rosemary Herd with her wonderful alto voice sang a solo during the first act of the show.  To finish out the first act The Ushers closed with their rendition of the Beatles, “Let It Be”. Members of the Ushers include Rosemary, Carol Bruneau, Betty Splettstoesser, Kathy Brann, and Becky Snoddy along with Keith Snoddy, Dan Doughty, Dick Small and Art Tordoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

A short intermission took place so the audience might obtain nourishment served form the kitchen.

In the second act in addition to the Flukes we experienced the singing talent of Betty Smith followed by her mother, Sally, who as Prunella had some difficulty humorously wrapping parcels. Christina Irace also entertained us with a song . She was accompanied by her dad, a member of the Flukes, who played the guitar. Merrill Kaiser who had sung a solo in the first act returned for his rendition of "What A Wonderful World" in the second.

The next to last number featured some humorous recollections of Chris Ward from family life and then she and Dan Doughty concluded the performance with a duet. At the end of nearly two hours the Ushers returned to close the show with another Beatles number, “All You Need Is Love.” As they approached the last couple of stanzas of the song the audience was encouraged to stand and sing with the group.

This is always a fun activity and gets many members of the church involved in producing such an event together.

Thanks again to all who participated and all who attended. See you all next year!