Erika Rice skated the role of the Mouse Queen in the Greenwood Skating Club’s 2005 production of "Nutcracker on Ice." Appearing as her mice guards were Jared Flamand, Lorne Ogilvie, Grant Whiting and Robert Dowell . The club will bring the holiday favorite back to the ice again this year during 14 Wing Greenwood’s Lights On Ceremony December 3 at 2 p.m.
Submitted
Skaters act out with Christmas show
BY NANCY KELLY
Kings County Register
14 Wing Greenwood will kick off the holiday season December 3 at the Greenwood Gardens arena with its annual Lights on Ceremony.
The annual event will be hosted by Wing Commander Perry Matte and will feature a tree lighting, door prizes and a visit by Santa Claus.
The second annual production of "Nutcracker on Ice,? presented by the Greenwood Skating Club, will also be part of the festivities. While the club has traditionally taken part in the Lights On Ceremony, last year club officials decided to start its own tradition with the presentation of the timeless Christmas classic, based on the story, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King."
All members of the Greenwood Skating Club from CanSkate to StarSkate are assigned a role in this ice skating adaptation of the holiday tale, which takes place Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house. The children, Clara and Fritz, welcome their friends to the family’s annual Christmas party along with their godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. A skilled clock and toy maker, his presentation of two life-size dancing dolls is the delight of the party. Drosselmeyer presents gifts to the children and, when he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker doll, Fritz becomes jealous and promptly breaks it. Drosselmeyer is able to repair the Nutcracker before the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.
As the clock strikes midnight, magical things begin to happen. The toys around the tree come to life as does the Nutcracker. He turns into a human Prince, taking Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland, where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
In her dream, Clara also visits the Land of Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy.
After the show, there will be a free skate with hot chocolate and treats. Everyone is invited to attend and organizers are requesting donations of non-perishable food items for the local food bank. The event gets started with the tree lighting at 2 p.m.
