Sudbury Christmas carol transformed into stage play
‘Little Skidoo’ was recorded by the late Sudbury songwriter Bert Collins in 1977.
A new play based on the song is about to hit the stage complete with music, Muppet-style puppets and a special Christmas message.
The play takes place during Christmas 2022 when a repeat happens from 1977: a huge storm and Santa is lost. Can the same skidoo save the day?
"Fast forward to 2022 we are not doing a 1977 version," said Judi Straughan, playwright, producer and director of Little Skidoo.
“So we have technology, we have a screen, we have people facetiming in to help solve the mystery of where is Santa and why has he gone missing? So the entire community real people in the community solve the mystery.”
Sudbury singer/songwriter Stef Paquette plays Bert Collins, the man who wrote and then recorded the Christmas carol in the 1970s.
"I grew up on the Little Skidoo song,” Paquette said.
“To be able to be to present that song or sing that song and to maybe there are some kids new generation that don't know the song and to be able to present that song to a whole other generation of kids is pretty special.”
The play features a singalong and Muppet-style puppets radio DJ Wooly Mammoth and Dominique, who does her best to help Santa.
The actors said there is a special message in the musical.
"The message is that it only takes a little bit of hope and a little bit of love and all will be well at Christmas time," said Dominique, played by puppeteer Natalie Lalonde.
"Even the smallest things with enough hope and care put into them belief can really do incredible things if you give them the chance," said Wooly Mammoth, played by puppeteer Joel Giroux.
The writer describes the play as a magical, entertaining, family show with some humour for ages four and older.
Performances of Little Skidoo take place Friday and Saturday at the Sheridan Auditorium at Sudbury Secondary School.
More information can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6954857.1720387155!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Alice Munro's daughter says mom kept silent when stepfather sexually abused her
The youngest daughter of celebrated Canadian author Alice Munro has opened up about sexual abuse by her stepfather and the deep hurt she felt when her mother chose to support her husband instead of her child.
France election: Leftists win more seats over far right, but leaves hung parliament
A coalition of the French left won the most seats in high-stakes legislative elections Sunday, beating back a far-right surge but failing to win a majority.
Bus crashes into electrical pylon, causing massive power outage on the South Shore
Tens of thousands of households on Montreal's South Shore have been without electricity since Saturday night after a bus crashed into an electrical pylon.
Ottawa councillor, residents condemn arrival of 'hateful' group Diagolon 'Terror Tour'
A community group and an Ottawa city councillor have come forward to condemn the arrival of the far-right group Diagolon after it brought its 'Road Rage Terror Tour' to Ottawa over the weekend.
Planning a last-minute summer vacation? Here's how to save money
Summer is already in full swing, but there is still time to plan a vacation — and even save some money, while you're at it.
'Meltdown': A week later, WestJet continues to feel the fallout from mechanics strike
One week after it ended, WestJet continues to feel the effects of a mechanics strike that nearly shut down the airline's network for 29 hours.
ANALYSIS Why are Trudeau and Singh avoiding Stampede this year?
This year, only Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will be saddling up for the event, while both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will stay away.
As Biden continues campaigning, some House Democrat leaders say he should step aside
Some leading congressional Democrats privately suggested it was time for U.S. President Joe Biden to abandon his reelection bid.
Woman dies at Rolling Stones concert in Vancouver
A woman attending the Rolling Stones concert at BC Place died Friday night, police confirmed.