Community Theatre Growing the Beaches

There isn’t a better way to get a running start at making friends in a new community than participating in your local theatre company. Luckily for beach area residents, Rob Brown and Yolanda Van Der Kolk (Brown) have created a company in the area, called The Panama and Coclé Theatre (P.a.C.T.). The pair bring a combination of acting, directing, stage design and costume experience to the company. Recently Yolanda starred in a production of “Small Talks”, an situation comedy, where she transforms herself from an awkward, dowdy woman into a self assured seductress. When Yolanda first walked out on stage, I didn’t recognize her, and was amazed at how convincing she was.

“It Rob’s direction", says Yolanda. "I don’t have much acting experience”. “The great thing about community theatre is that the audience are your friends. It makes it comfortable to try out things”.

P.A.C.T. has held an open casting call for actors. That call has been answered by community members, like Claire Ross, Wayne Halladay, Lise Pepin, Martha Look, Karen Key, Bruce Johnson and Arlene Nash. “I always tell people just because you haven’t acted, doesn’t mean you can’t”, says Yolanda. Once they get their feet wet, inexperienced actors soon begin to have fun. “Its great to see people come out of their shell”, says Yolanda.

Most P.A.C.T. players come to the stage with limited or no experience at all. Every once in awhile a no-nonsense actor with a lot of experience, like Ann Watson, will pass through the company. When that happens, the cast has the opportunity to grow themselves, and through it, bonds are inevitability deepened.

“A show, forges friendships that are so deep and so real that I fully expect some of the ones I have made to last a lifetime”, says Claire Ross.

On February 13th  P.A.C.T. is hosting “The Making Woopee Game Show”. This is an audience driven show, based on a popular 70’s TV show, where couples answer questions about each other, often with hilarious outcomes. Points are gained when both partners have the same answer. The unique thing about this show is that the audience is sure to know the couples participating. This show has been postponed until further notice.

Coming up on April 10th, “Therapist: Not One Word”, written by Rob Brown, the play is a chilling drama about a psychotic psychiatrist that manipulates her patients - with bizarre results.

On Friday June 13th, the Ancon Theatre company will travel to the Beaches to preform "Rocky Horror Show".

P.A.C.T is looking for people to get involved in Community Theatre. Volunteers are needed for front and back stage. To get involved contact Rob:  roberto@retirementdetectives.com or Yolanda: goyogallery@gmail.com