Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 16, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Christmas may be more than a month away, but the celebrations have already begun. The Christmas HOHO Show, now in its fourth year, is bringing a little holiday spirit this weekend to fans of the season, fans of music, and fans of having a laugh.

Norma Giovanetto and Kelley Merilees-Keppel, two of the Christmas HoHo show's "elves," prepare their costumes on Tuesday night as the stage is set up for performances. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

As Rick Poltaruk, organizer and front man of the featured band Rick and the Relics explains, the show has been a hit in previous years.

"We didn't quite sell out the very first year, and the second and third years we sold out just fine," he said. "The audience loved it -we've had nothing but repeat customers ever since we started it."

The show is a mix of music and dialogue splashed with a little comedy to keep the crowd laughing. Poltaruk said every year the show is changed to keep it fresh.

This year, one of the noticeable differences is that the "elves," being the singers, made their own costumes to wear, fitting with the theme.

"It is the year of the elf," said Poltaruk. "We're talking about Santa's helpers, and don't forget, we're talking about the oldest elf in the world, Jim Taylor."

Another one of the "elves," Kelley Merilees-Keppel, has been in the show since its inception and is happy to be singing alongside others such as Norma Giovanetto.

"These women are amazing. They're absolutely phenomenal," she said. "I have learned so much from these women it's not even funny."

Merilees-Keppel has been in the show long enough to know that it's not a straight-up, formal performance. She said it's "a bunch of old friends getting together to do some fun stuff."

Poltaruk said it's also a unique opportunity for some of the town's musicians.

"It is an opportunity for part-time musicians to make some money doing what they love to do," he said.

But why is a Christmas show happening so early in November?

"It's basically the kickoff to Christmas," he said. "The hard part about getting a show like this off the ground is finding a weekend that's not booked up by Christmas parties."

The show was scheduled to start last night, and will continue tonight and tomorrow night at the Top Knight. Both shows, which take place at the Top Knight, start at 8 p.m. after a 6:30 p.m. dinner.