Christmas Old Time Radio Roadshow
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Sidney, December 7
Campbell River, December 8
Nanaimo, December 9
Victoria, December 10
Comox, December 11
Parksville, December 12
Chemainus, December 19 and 20
Bing Crosby meet Ken Lavigne!
An interview with Ken Lavigne, Tenor and Entertainer
By Rosemary Phillips
The family is
gathered together in the sitting-room around a box radio, listening to
favourite Christmas songs by Bing Crosby, and swing and boogie-woogie with the
Andrew Sisters. World War II wages on, but in this cozy room candles on the
Christmas tree flicker, tinsel glitters, treasured glass ornaments sparkle, and
the star on top of the tree shines. Paper chains, boughs, holly and mistletoe
garland the ceiling, walls and doorways, while stockings hang from the mantle
above a crackling fire in anticipation of Christmas Eve and Santa Claus.
Um, wait a minute… this is 2015, the
age of huge computerized TV screens, iPods, iTunes, smart phones, electronic
everything - including lights, decorations, and even Christmas trees…
Coming back
to 2015… as Ken Lavigne, Vancouver Island’s very own romantic crooner
explained, “We are touring the Island with a Christmas Old Time Radio Roadshow.”
It was October, and Ken spoke on the phone from South Carolina where he was on
tour. “Everyone down here has a bit of an accent,” he chuckled. “It’s rather
ironic. I’m sitting here in 28 degrees in a beach hut and Christmas and my
family seem a long way off.”
But, we all
know how Ken loves Christmas and the shows he performs throughout Vancouver
Island during the festive season. As an all-round entertainer Ken invites you
into his life with his luscious, silken honey voice, singing Christmas
favourites, ballads, show tunes and classical crossover hits, and tells stories
that leave audience member’s roaring with laughter.
“This year
I’m doing something completely different. It’s a throw-back to the golden age
of live radio, evoking the sounds of radio drama, with special sound-effects,
and presenting a Christmas story, putting our own modern spin on it. We will be
dressing the stage as an old time radio studio, as best we can. It’s
entertainment, sharing stories and the Christmas spirit - which is all about
joy.”
The talent: Joining Ken and his band are the
harmonious voices of the Company ‘B’
Vocal Trio (“You’d think we were listening to the Andrew Sisters,” said
Ken), and the energetic and graceful O’Brian
O’Connor School of Irish Dance (“They were part of Symphony by the Sea this
year,” he added).
The music: “I pulled from a whole host of
genres – from Bing to Bocelli,” Ken explained. “There’s a lot of variety, like Jingles Bells, the Bing Crosby version.
It’s a show stopper. I’ll be singing songs I love to perform, such as Sleigh Ride, Winter Wonderland, What Child
is This, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Carol of the Bells, Away In A Manger and O Holy
Night – plus my regular songs,
both serious and spiritual.”
The Tour: Of course there will be Ken’s
stories and his casual and natural warm-witted banter with the musicians,
fellow performers, and audience. “We start in Sidney (Charlie White Theatre,
December 7), go up to Campbell River (Tidemark Theatre, December 8), Nanaimo
(Port Theatre, December 9), Victoria (Alix Goolden Performance Hall, December
10), Comox (Comox United Church, December 11), Parksville (Knox United Church,
December 12, 3 p.m.)… all over the place, with the grand finale in my home town
of Chemainus (Chemainus United Church, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. and December 20
at 2 p.m.).”
Inspiring others: Interview over, it was time for Ken
to go for a swim in the ocean. But, before he left for the beach he added,
“After this tour I head home then fly off to Saskatchewan for 12 shows, then
off to Oregon and California before the Christmas tour of the Island.
Meanwhile, there are a lot of floods here in South Carolina. I have already
been to one of the communities, devastated by floods, to a school, to give an
inspirational talk. Unfortunately most of the kids couldn’t make it because
they are still in shelters. I’m a bit timid about being an inspirational
speaker but I enjoy doing it in my shows. I hope to inspire others, to follow
their dreams.”
Who could
deny Ken’s eternal optimism or forget his amazing feat of following his dream
to perform at Carnegie Hall. He is totally genuine, blatantly honest, engaging,
and full of heart, mischief and laughter. Add his inspiring recordings, such as
his latest Christmas album, Comfort and
Joy, featuring the kind of music
that wraps you with hope, like a warm blanket – and you have Ken Lavigne – pure
inspiration!
Come warm yourself with a cup of good
cheer, nostalgia, happy memories and the goodwill of Christmas past – when life
seemed simpler - while seguing into the present with Ken Lavigne’s optimism,
hope, comfort and joy for the future.
Advance tickets for Ken Lavigne’s Christmas Old Time Radio Roadshow are available at
each venue: $38, $18 for students for Sidney, Campbell River, Nanaimo,
Victoria; $32, $18 for students for Comox, Parksville and Chemainus ($37 at the
door).
