Saturday, November 24, 2012 • Whidbey News-Times
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Rebecca Olson / Whidbey News-Times
Buster the Christmas hog is unveiled, to the delight of townspeople. From left to right are actors Matt Montoya, Julia Locke, Rusty Hendrix, Kyle Caporgno and Garrett Stahl.
fruit CONTINUED FROM A10 Meyer’s favorite part of the play is the ending. He said he cried the first time he read it and every performance since. “I want them (the audience) to think about family and friends they have not been in touch with in awhile … I want them to think
about keeping the Christmas spirit all year round,” Meyer said, adding that you don’t have to be Christian to do so. “I want people to laugh.” Despite being forcibly tied into an apron and coerced into making fruitcakes with Miss Alice and Miss Sara, Jamie’s journey is ultimately heartwarming and relatable. Fourteen-year-old Stahl has been in 15 plays at the Playhouse since starting his
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acting career at age 5. This is his first play acting with his mom, Lori Stahl. “It was all really fun,” Garrett Stahl said, adding that he enjoyed working with everyone. “It’s a different play. I haven’t been in a lot of plays with strange people and billions of fruitcakes,” Stahl said. “I hope they (the audi-
Rebecca Olson / Whidbey News-Times
Sally, played by Brenna Richard, surprises Mack as the angel Gabriella in “Fruitcakes.” Lions, built the colorful ing scene changes. whirligigs decorating Mack’s The Central Whidbey Lions Club donated and built shop. “If you part of the want a set, includshow to ing Mack’s bring your work “Fruitcakes” runs Nov. 30 whole bench, through Dec. 22. family to, which will Shows are Thursdays, Frithis is it. be donated days and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. There’s to the Saturday, Dec. 22 show is nothing Coupeville at 2:30 p.m. off-color; High Tickets are $16. it’s just School garFor tickets, call 679-2237. fun,” den shed. The Playhouse is located Meyer The Oak at 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. said. “You Harbor Visit whidbeyplayhouse. can talk Lions Club com. about it also built when you part of the get home set. and that’s the best thing a Gary Giovanni, president family can do.” of the Central Whidbey
Christmas cheer
Th ank You
Dear Friends, With all the fervor of the general election behind us, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the hard-working and dedicated individuals who made it all happen. Campaigns offer a unique opportunity to share views on how our government should be operated. Everyone wants the very best for our district, state and nation. I want to thank Mary Margaret Haugen for her service over the past 30 years and wish her the very best for the future. I especially want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped make my campaign a success. Your dedication and hard work meant everything to me, and I am forever grateful. As we move forward, everyone needs to know that my door is always open. I look forward to working for you and with you on issues that affect our district and state. You have given me a great honor to serve as your State Senator. I am optimistic about our future. Working together and across party lines we can accomplish more than we can imagine. Sincerely,
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ence) like it so much that they see it again and again and every performance gets sold out.” When she read the play a year ago, director Anita Rich said she “fell in love with it immediately because it evokes all the love and feelings you want to share at Christmas time.” The message of reconciliation is meaningful, as well as the fun aspect of recognizing many of these eccentric characters as similar to people in our own lives, Rich said. “What I hope will happen is people will see the play and then want to bring a friend and share the experience again,” Rich said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll feel warm and Christmas-y.” This is the first play Rich has directed at the Playhouse, but she and her husband, Jim, have explored many aspects of community theater as ways to get to know their communities while in the military. An enjoyable part of directing this play was the many children involved, Rich said. “I think the children will be a big draw. They’re adorable,” Rich said, adding that the children developed their own amusing interludes dur-
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