Arviat (Jan 17/07) - A group of young actors mastered a challenging script to deliver a spicy taste of Christmas with the Peanuts gang in Arviat this past month.

Show director Gord Billard said the actors did a wonderful job with a difficult script for a young age group working in a second language.

He said the young thespians exceeded his wildest expectations in dealing with a daunting vocabulary, especially in the lead roles.

"It was quite an accomplishment for Grade 6 to 8 students," said Billard. "The audience seemed to enjoy it, as they applauded after every scene."

The Arviat troupe went all out with its production for Snoopy and his pals. Billard cast 19 actors in the show's 12 roles, with seven being double-cast. Seven senior students worked backstage on the lights and set preparation.

"The show was aided by the marvellous job Jeff van den Scott and his choir did with the musical arrangements," he said.

"The falling snow, which was confetti falling from a pipe with holes punched in the bottom of it above the lights, went over really well with the audience.

"It was a great effect, but we had to do a lot of quick sweeping to clean it away to set up the next set."

Billard said the audience enjoyed seeing a fresh show this Christmas.

He said the performances drew good crowds, despite competing with bingo and other events.

"We did two school shows and a public matinee and evening performance," he said.

"We had about 150 people for each show, which would have filled the space we had in the old school.

"It takes about 550 to fill the theatre we have now.

"We'll only fill that with a show that has broad general appeal, and performed on an evening when nothing else is going on in the community.

"But, that gives us something to shoot for."

Billard said Samuel Tagalik shone in the lead role of Charlie Brown, while both Charlotte Karetak and Katrina Kablutsiak put in strong performances as Lucy.

"They had to deal with some pretty weird terms Lucy uses while trying to figure out what Charlie Brown has when he's at her psychiatric booth, and they had them rolling off their tongues," he said.

"Jonathan Kigusiutnar did a marvellous job as our one Snoopy, wearing a dog's outfit made by Charlene Sutton throughout the entire show.

"It was made out of a fairly heavy material and Snoopy had to do a lot of jumping around stage, so the poor little guy had quite a sweat going by show's end."