by Halimah Collingwood
Christmas is a busy time for musicians, actors and performers of every type. Usually, I am singing with my Gospel Choir but this year, I chose a different experience. I joined a small company of actors and singers to produce a local rendition of Aesop’s “The Grasshopper and the Ant,” — but this story was about the “Aunt.”
Auntie Ant was played by a talented British actor, James Peck. He is a staff member of the world-renowned Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre located in Blue Lake, Humboldt County. He, his wife and several others adapted the play which was full of Ant puns.
It was very Ant-tense to be a part of this play which ran for 2 weekends or 7 shows. George Buttrocks, the villain (boo, hiss) was Ant-tagonistic for sure. Ant-Thena, the heroine, was taken off to Debtor’s Prison by George (more booing and hissing). Yes, it was audience participation.
The songs were either written for the play or repurposed for the action: “Get A Job,” “Debtor’s Prison,” “An English Country Garden.” I was in my element, the Ant-tithesis of my usual holiday extravaganza. And, next year? Who knows, I might have been bitten by the Bug…
