Stage West presents ‘PS: Merry Christmas’

By Scott D. Johnston

For North Coast News

Stage West Community Theatre in Ocean Shores is ready to raise the curtain on this year’s holiday play, “PS: Merry Christmas.”

The family comedy opens this weekend on the Lions Club stage, 832 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW, with performances Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10 at 7 p.m. and Sundays, Dec. 4 and 11 at 2 p.m.

Playwright Pat Cook uses the familiar annual holiday letter – those sappy Christmas communiques full of often idealized versions of all the things that happened in the family all year, whether you want to know or not. Writing the current edition becomes a frame for lead character Karen Brookshire to share her family’s year in a series of small vignettes, with humorous and heartwarming results.

“We have a strong cast, with some experienced actors and some brand new to the stage,” said director Lori Hardin.

The cast includes: Karin Svare Noble as Karen Brookshire; Michael Barbero as Marlon Brookshire; Matt Thomas as Thad Brookshire, Andre, and Antique Expert; Isabel Harnagy as Katie Brookshire; Pamela Nygaard as Gretchen, Grandma Kushman, and Mrs. Barnhouse; Sallyann Mapile as Dodo; Keira Gibson as Virginia (a voiceover); and Olivia Thomas as Young Karen.

Noble carries “a heavy line load” in the lead role, her first Stage West production. She called the show “a great way to kick off the holiday… it’s funny, feel-good, wacky, cute, and sentimental.”

For this production, the stage manager is Vickie Espinoza, the set builder is Ron Cooper, and sound and lighting are by Cooper and Eric Bjella.

Cooper and Bjella recently installed a new lighting system, the latest in a series of improvements Stage West has made to the Lions Club and its stage since it became the group’s permanent home a few years ago. They join Dr. Stacy Steele as the remaining charter members of Stage West who have been actively involved since its founding in 2009. This production is sponsored by Dr. Steele’s Ocean Shores Animal Hospital.

Although this is her first time helming a Stage West production, director Hardin notes that, “last year I was able to volunteer as assistant stage manager for ‘Things My Mother Taught Me’ and then stage manager for ‘Murder Ahoy!’” Hardin is the local theater group’s board secretary and has just wrapped up six years on the board of the Tacoma Musical Playhouse, the last three years as president.

Beyond this year’s holiday play, Hardin is pleased to be involved in “script selection and planning for what we expect to be three shows this season,” she said.

“Stage West has been asked to select a murder mystery to be performed at both Seabrook and at Galway Bay Restaurant in Ocean Shores over the winter, and we plan to present another play in the spring. Neither show has been selected as yet; we are still sifting through scripts,” she explained.

“We are fortunate in that we have a delightfully supportive community in Ocean Shores and surrounding areas,” Hardin exclaimed. “Our members are dedicated to keeping the theater healthy financially and they are terrific audiences. Very nurturing of our artists, which is the most important job an audience has!”

Tickets for “PS: Merry Christmas” are available at Mocha Madness, Dolores and Fay’s, Ocean Shores Animal Hospital, and at the door. For more information about Stage West Community Theatre, visit their website at stagewestcommunitytheatre.org.