Murray Wood: Drought or deluge, it's Saskatchewan weather
Murray Wood notes that while we have seen years with "perfect" weather in the province, they aren't that commo...
The warm weather has put smiles on people’s faces, but it has also brought some challenges along with it.
Sum Theatre is nearing the end of its “Elder Brother and the Bison” show, which is performed on outdoor rinks. Stage manager Sam Fairweather said the weather has presented some issues in the last little bit.
“The weather has definitely had an effect on how our show has gone technically,” said Fairweather.
Sum Theatre was supposed to perform an on-ice show Wednesday at the East Hill Community Club Rink in Prince Albert, but the plan changed quickly due to the weather.
“We had choreographed this whole show to be on ice,” said Fairweather. “Last week we had our first instance where it was too warm for the ice. We showed up and we were like, ‘This is more of a swimming pool than a skating rink.’
“We threw on snow boots and rubber boots.”
One actor had put on soccer cleats to be able to move quickly through the snow.
The group was in Regina on Thursday hoping it would be able to perform the show on ice, but that didn’t happen.
“We realized that the ice was a lot softer than it looked and we were falling through the ice,” said Fairweather.
Fairweather explained that with the warm weather a little bit more planning is required in case the ice surface is not usable.
“We’ll have to go now a little bit early and kind of scout out a spot that we can actually do it and make sure the audience is actually comfortable,” said Fairweather. “Because as an audience member, you also don’t want to be sitting on a wet rink.”
The show dates also can’t be changed so Fairweather said the company has to just roll with the punches.
“We just go with our schedule,” said Fairweather. “We show up at the rink and we are going to have to go day by day and see what it looks like.”
Another show is occurring in Regina on Friday afternoon at the Harbour Landing Outdoor Community Rink at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
As well, a show is scheduled for Saskatoon at the Dundonald School rink on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
