Tom McCamus, Chick Reid (10/10 Gift of the Magi)
The Peterborough Examiner 10/27/10: Tom McCamus, Chick Reid (Nicole Carter in "Blood Ties")
The Gift of the Magi at Westben Entertainment
Narrators Tom McCamus and Chick Reid
CAMPBELLFORD - Tom McCamus and Chick Reid will join Westben for Christmas in The Gift of the Magi. McCamus played Stratford's Captain Hook and Reid is a veteran of Shakespearian actress. The Warkworth couple presents The Gift of the Magi with the Westben Choruses opening on Nov. 20. Reid and McCamus will narrate the traditional Gift of the Magi story by O. Henry (Sydney Porter). The production features the 80 members of the three Westben Choruses supplying garlands of beautiful seasonal music in this Christmas concert, states a press release.
Reid performed in Women in Shakespeare at Westben in July and McCamus is just finishing up his role of Captain Hook in Stratford's Peter Pan.
"I know the Youth Chorus can't wait to see Captain Hook up close, let alone perform with him!" states marketing director Donna Bennett.
Westben is taking The Gift of the Magi on the road. Following its opening performance at St. John's United Church at 2 p.m. in Campbellford, the production tours to St. Andrew's United Church in Peterborough for a repeat performance on Nov. 21 at 3 p.m.
"Taking Westben on the road is always a thrill for everyone involved," states Bennett. "The Peterborough members in the Festival and Teen Choruses are especially excited to share their music in their own city."
The final two performances will be at the Westben Barn on Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. Nov. 28 at 3 p.m.
Tickets may be ordered on line at www.westben.ca or by calling the Westben box office at 705-653-5508 or toll free 877-883-5777.
© The Peterborough Examiner
Excerpt from The Intelligencer 11/3/10: Tom McCamus, Chick Reid
'The Gift of the Magi' runs laters this month
JACK EVANS, FOR THE INTELLIGENCER Wednesday, November 3, 2010 6:10:00 EDT AM
It's hard to find a better example of giving until it hurts in literature than O. Henry's classic Christmas story, "The Gift of the Magi." It is a story about a couple so in love with each other, that each sacrifices their greatest treasure to get the perfect Christmas gift. Something like a Christmas panto, Westben has a tradition of taking a well-known story or work and adapting it to a Christmas musical presentation, without the ribald hilarity.
The Campbellford barn theatre throws in all its talent and musical resources, three musical choruses, including a children's, a youth choir and an adult choir, volunteer singers from a wide area, including some Quinte area residents. Westben can also call on some of Canada's most acclaimed stage talent such as Tom McCamus, just completing his role as Captain Hook in the Stratford production of Peter Pan, and Chick Reid, both of whom live in the community.
The show has only four performances. The opener is Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. in St. John's United Church, Campbellford, followed by one in St. Andrew's United Church, Peterborough, the next day at 3 p.m. and the following weekend in the Westben barn theatre, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. and Nov. 28 at 3 p.m.
© Intelligencer
Excerpt from Community Press 11/16/10: Tom McCamus, Chick Reid
From Magi to Beethoven
Brian Finley Tuesday, November 16, 2010 6:13:54 EST PM
Chick Reid and Tom McCamus, those incredible actors from Warkworth, are perfect narrators for The Gift of the Magi - a charming story by O. Henry about a young, adoring (but destitute) couple who give up everything they own just to buy the perfect gifts for each other. The story is an ideal foil for a Christmas concert filled with the joy of giving. Who better than the Westben Youth & Teen Choruses to bring to life its wonderfully youthful exuberance? And who better than the Westben Festival Chorus to investigate its poignant charm? Donna Bennett leads the 80 voices, and I will be at the piano.
© Community Press