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Vol. 19, No. 16, Wednesday, March 13, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
“The Vile Veterinarian” Chipman Players hit the mark again BY JOHN MATHER It was a very pun-filled evening. The Chipman Players launched their rendition of “The Vile Veterinarian” on March 9, and it was a tremendous success. The play was jam packed with puns, “baaaad” animal jokes, one liners and improvised lines. A crowd from around the region lapped up every bit of it. Beside me, a group of friends from Rimbey, Smoky Lake and Lamont had come to see the Players for the first time. “We’re really enjoying it,” said one guest from Smoky Lake during the intermission. “They are really funny and you can tell they’re enjoying themselves.” They were surprised to hear the Chipman Players put on a show every year. “They really don’t have that much time to practice if they only start in January and rehearse twice a week,” added another. “They really do well.” Players president Keiron Willis took on the lead role as the beleaguered hotel proprietress Polly Purina and runs it with her animal loving grandmom, Kay Nein, played by Joyce Doberstein. Facing financial ruin, the banker Mort Gudge played on Mar 9 by Allan Engman, is threatening to foreclose and with the mine closing and the army moving out of the community the future for the operation looks bleak. But suddenly a cast of both locals and out of towners arrive with their troubles, tribulations and animals. All feel the salvation of the operation could be having a veterinarian in town.
And, lo and behold, a veterinarian ceded by a wonderful meal catered by benefitting the County Food Bank. While the shows are technically sold does arrive in the form of Ray Breeze, Tom’s Catering. So if you are able to acquire a ticket out, some tickets may come available performed by Chipman Players founder Bruce McGregor, and his faith- for the remaining performances on and once again this year the Chipman ful nurse Kitty Litter portrayed by vet- March 16 or 17, take advantage and get Players have put together a performance of great fun and enjoyment for one. eran Player Caren Cossey. The Players also host a 50/50 draw their audience. Cossey does a stellar job of not appreciating dogs while casually munching on cat treats throughout her performance. And of course Ray Breeze is a ne’er do well veterinarian with evil on his mind. From there, plot lines come and go as characters with their assortment of sheep, dogs, cats and a Tasmanian Platypus come and go with their tales of woe spilling out to Polly and the audience. Even Polly’s love interest, Hugh Kandoit, played brilliantly by Chipman Players rookie Anastazia Engman, an animal lover, brings in an Anaconda to have the vet look at it. But she suspects the Vile Veterinarian isn’t all he claims to be and sets out to prove it, even as Ray Breeze tries to implicate him in a kidnapping (dognapping) scheme. In all it was two First time Chipman Players performer Warren Kelliher playing the part of Charlie Horse cracks up hours of great fun in Vile Veterinarian Bruce McGregor during the performance at Chipman National Hall March 9. The two acts. Players put on a brilliant show loaded with puns, one liners and ad libbed lines. Two performances And the show is pre- remain of this year’s production on March 16 and 17.