Top honours went to the host troupe, but Kwalicum Secondary School’s drama club proved a hit in its return, after several years absence, to the Echo Players’ One-act Play Festival last week at Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach.
The Echo Players, who performed two different plays, earned Best Play, Best Director (Sue Murguly), Best Actor (Alistair McVey) and Best Supporting Actor (Paul Churchill) for their production of Chekov’s Swan Song.
Another Echo Player, Judy Hipkins, won Best Actress in Nasty Things Murders.
Jurors for the four-day festival were award-winning Canadian actress Nicola Cavendish and veteran theatre actor and director Robb Mowbray.
KSS students Mack Blanchard, Quade Burleigh, Cameron Chevrette, Alex Hunter, Jessi Kercher and Drew Smith, brought by the school’s new drama instructor, Dan Osleeb, earned Best Ensemble for their comedy, The Whole Shebang.
Chevrette was also selected Best Supporting Actress for the festival.
The Gabriola Players won Best Original Script for Lemon Yellow Laces. Also participating in the festival were the River City Players of Campbell River and Courtenay Little Theatre.
The Portal Players of Port Alberni were forced to withdraw due to multiple illnesses.
— NEWS Staff