Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2007

ARVIAT -The Arviat Drama Club will be unleashing an old nemesis on the community this month when it presents How the Grinch Stole Christmas as its holiday production.

The Grinch made his first Arviat appearance at Qitiqliq school in 2003, but this will be his first time on stage at John Arnalukjuak High.

Director Gord Billard said a renewed interest in the show prompted him to bring the Grinch and his two sinister henchmen, Bongo and Pongo, back to the Kivalliq.

"A number of the younger kids who saw the Grinch four years ago asked if we'd do it again this year," said Billard.

"It was probably the most popular of all the Christmas shows we've done, and these kids really wanted to be in it now that they're older.

"It's a timeless classic and, seeing how it's been four years since we tackled it, the timing seemed right to bring the Grinch back."

The original Grinch production in Arviat featured the drama club's most ambitious use of special effects, including a special Mount Crumpet constructed by Bob Leonard's crew.

The new theatre has a much-higher slope, which Billard hopes will serve as Mount Crumpet for the 2007 production.

"There's a convenient big box right at the top that we hope will be suitable for the Grinch's mountain.

"But we're still trying to figure out how we're going to make a big box at the top of the theatre into a mountain.

"As we speak, it's simply a very big box and we're not sure, just yet, how we're going to transform it into Mount Crumpet."

This year's show will feature between 12 and 15 actors, with most of the major roles being double-cast.

Daniel Alagalak will star as the Grinch, while Riley Troke-Barriault will narrate the story.

"The rehearsals have been going great so far," said Billard.

"We will be doing our shows on Dec. 19 and 20, with our two afternoon shows being for the school children and our evening performances for the general public.

"The public shows will begin at 7 p.m., and will open with about 30 minutes of songs and music from Jeff van den Scott's fabulous choir before the actual play begins.

"Arviat is in for a memorable pair of evening performances."