The Mother Goose Paper Plate Award

Entire Cast Curtain Call. Photo from Brenda Byrd.

A few years ago one of our younger St. Paul’s Players, Evelyn Stith, introduced us to the custom of the “paper plate awards.” Each production since, at our party, we’ve presented accolades to each participant written on a paper plate.

Hannibal Davis as Commissionaire Peterson. Photo by Colleen Fanin Arnold. 

 

This year, after I handed out the awards, I received one from the group, the “Mother Goose” award.

Janet Brooks Holmes and Hannibal Davis. Photo by Colleen Fanin Arnold.

Wikipedia defines Mother Goose as an “imaginary author of ... tales and ... rhymes” sometimes dressed as a Welsh country woman and other times as a goose.

Brenda Byrd with her "peeps" (family and friends).

 I remain proud as a mother of all my goslings in A Sherlock Holmes Christmas.

Brenda Byrd's cheese creation for our party -- The Blue Carbuncle.

A Smashing Success!

Curtain Call on December 6, 2013

I can’t adequately express my pride for all the participants in A Sherlock Holmes Christmas, which had a sold out dinner theater opening on Friday, December 6, and played to enthusiastic audiences at matinee and evening performances on Saturday, December 7.

Jim Jarvis, Tracy and Matt Davenport, Janet Holmes Brooks, Hannibal Davis, Pat Jarvis, Brenda Byrd, Valerie Ward

Congratulations to our eleven superb actors, two brilliant lighting and sound guys, wonderful ticket taker and house manager, and fabulous producer.

John Arnold, Hannibal Davis, Jim Jarvis, and Tracy Davis Davenport

  

We were so pleased and proud to collect over $1,500 for our cast project to benefit St. Paul’s new neighbor, the Autism Academy of South Carolina.

Jim Jarvis, John Arnold, and Mark Wade

Colleen Fanin Arnold, wife of John Arnold (Holmes) made these fabulous photos!  

Our Sherlock Holmes Christmas Poster

 

Susan F. Craft, Author of The Chamomile

The time nears when we will present A Sherlock Holmes Christmas at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, on the corner of Bull and Blanding Streets, Columbia, S.C. My bestest buddy, Susan F. Craft, who helps me with so many things, has designed our show's wonderful poster, featuring a beautiful blue background evoking the mysterious gem. She adds a goose wearing a Christmas wreath and Holmes with a sprig of holly in his hat. Where does she get these creative ideas that illustrate our story so perfectly? Call for your dinner theater reservations soon. Come to a performance. The game’s afoot!

Holmes and Watson

Jim Jarvis and John Arnold / Photo by Carrie Nicholson

These guys look happy and unassuming now, but give them four short weeks and they’ll be revealed as the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his steadfast chronicler Dr. John Watson! AKA John Arnold and Jim Jarvis, two buddies from Navy service. They're well-known members of the St. Paul’s Players, having been in our productions together since 2008. Here they are painting our set for A Sherlock Holmes Christmas opening December 6. Jim’s wife Pat will be appearing in the show. We’ll miss having John’s wife Colleen and son Asa on stage with us, but know they’ll be in the audience!

The Game's Afoot!

Wondering what the St. Paul’s Players are doing this December? Elementary, my dear viewers. "A Sherlock Holmes Christmas." This one act original musical will be performed on Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7, 2013. Auditions are on Sunday, September 29 at 6:00 and on Monday, September 30 at 6:00 in the Good Shepherd Room Theatre at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (located on the corner of Bull and Blanding Streets in Columbia, S.C.--please enter on the Bull Street side). Note: All ages and genders are welcome to audition. Come ready to sing, read, and move. The game’s afoot!