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Getting thrilled in Arviat Darrell Greer Northern News Services Published Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Halloween buzz enveloping the community resulted from the John Arnalukjuak High School drama, music and cosmetology students' production of Playhouse of the Damned. Promoted as a Halloween variety and comedy show, the production featured four short plays by Richard Nathan (My AxGirlfriend, Lady of the Night, Santa Claus and Frankenstein), songs, ghost stories and a showstopping re-creation of the Michael Jackson routine, Thriller. Director Gord Billard said he's never seen the school theatre so full. He said about 350 to 375 people attended the two evening shows for the public, while the theatre was standing room only for an afternoon performance for students of Arviat's three schools. "The community was out in full-force to support this show," said Billard. "The Thriller dance seemed to really be the big draw, and it was the number everybody was waiting for at the end of the show. "It was the first time the kids attempted something like this and they did quite well. "There were nine dancers in the number and their performance certainly was well-received by the audience." The dancers were so much of a hit, in fact, they were invited to the community hall to perform at two evening dances during the weekend. Billard said Innosar Issakiark's portrayal of Michael Jackson in the Thriller number made him an instant celebrity in Arviat. He said a number of women approached him after the shows to have their babies' pictures taken with Arviat's Michael Jackson. "Innosar is one of the strongest young performers I have and he did a great job with that role. "In fact, most of the performers in the show were back from the previous year and are, really, my core group of performers. "They all did a wonderful job with the Halloween show." A small choir of about a dozen girls performed songs between the skits such as a revised version of the Addams Family and the theme from Ghostbusters. Teacher Samantha Abbott is a theatre major, and choreographed the Thriller routine and was the emcee of the show as Gussette the Ghoul. Billard said Abbott told a couple of ghost stories the troupe took from the Internet, while another teacher told of a true life experience before the Thriller routine. "Marvin McKay-Keenan has been in the North for 30 years and, one year, was on his way to Rankin Inlet from Arviat in a snowstorm. "He had lost his way when a person dressed in caribou skins, who he'd never seen before, appeared from the blizzard and helped him find his way to Rankin. "He then disappeared back into the snowstorm and Marvin never saw him again or found out who, or what, had helped him. "That story was a perfect setup for the Thriller dance which then blew everyone away."
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