Caravan Farm Theatre in Spallumcheen presenting first winter show in two years

Photo: Tim Matheson

The horses of Caravan Farm Theatre await the cue to draw their sleigh of audience members into a magical Christmas story and the woods of this spectacular setting near Armstrong.

Caravan Farm Theatre wants to take people on a Joyride.

The long-standing outdoor theatre in Spallumcheen is presenting a winter show based on Philip Van Doren Stein’s the Greatest Gift, written in 1943.

The Greatest Gift was what the classic movie It's a Wonderful Life is based on.

The Caravan show will feature eight professional actors, sleighs, horses and the beauty of the North Okanagan in wintertime.

Caravan's Estelle Shook said this is the first winter show in two years.

“Our goal is that the audience feels like they’ve just been at the best party ever — that the hosts were so generous and fun that they were just swept along in the pleasure of it all,” said Shook.

And how will Joyride do that?

Well, George Bailey won’t be played by Jimmy Stewart. The role might not even be played by a male, and not even the actors know who will ‘draw’ that role for each of the 70 performances in the opening scene’s parlour game.

The show’s eight “dazzling” professional actors include Laara Sadiq, Allan Louis, George Young, Cheyenne Scott, Agnes Tong, Brahm Taylor, Jesse Gervais and Gloria Morgan.

“We wanted to explore where and how this story has meaning in our current world. And we want to do this with our audience, not for our audience. It’s a collaborative experience, in the way charades or twenty questions is immersive, interactive, and enjoyably collaborative. To achieve this, we have assembled an incredible cast of actors, including two community members Gloria Morgan and George Young,” said Shook.

Celebrated Vancouver composer Marguerite Witvoet selected a handful of recognizable Canadian pop songs, gave them a Christmas twist and then arranged them to be performed by the eight actors, who make an impressive choir.

“The familiarity of these songs gives us dramatic range for the underscoring, and adds an element of ‘name that tune,'” Shook said.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming our audience back to the winter show. For many, this is their Christmas gift to one another, so we are working hard to make it a meaningful one.”

Tickets for Joyride, on sale now, are available by phone at 1-866-546-8533 or by visiting Caravan online at caravanfarmtheatre.com. The show runs Dec. 3-Jan 2.

COVID protocols, including masks and proof of vaccination, are in place.