About 130 persons attended the Musical Revue sponsored by the Friends of the Forces Fellowship at Timothy Eaton Gardens on March 19.
A number of people commented favourably on the variety of acts and quality of performers.
The once-annual event hasn’t been held since 2018 as the pandemic forced the Fellowship to postpone this event to link the community and the 15 Wing Air Force training base.
Bonnie and the Jets, a local band with three generations of women from the same family, had the audience toe tapping and cheering for more when Althea Stafford and the band sang ‘Whenever I’m with Him and Wise Man.’
Sea Cadet Joaquin Tyrie of Moose Jaw sang an old wartime song that brought back memories and the piece ‘Mama Tried.’
Metis dancer Harold St. Pierre of Moose Jaw shared his culture with a reel and the ‘Orange Blossom Special’ with fast steps to rousing applause and cheers.
Desperate for Haggis, a local Saturday afternoon band at Bobby’s Place, featuring the bagpipes was well accepted.
Pianist Lorne Jackson’s key tinkling got the audience singing several wartime songs like ‘It’s A Long Way To Tipperary’. Members from Bonnie and the Jets led the singing.
Members of the choir from the Letters from the Military play at Briercrest Bible College sang ‘Under the AppleTree’ and read two letters written by a RAF member who was stationed at the Caron air training base during the Second World War
One letter was a hilarious account of the first hockey game he attended in Moose Jaw.
Snowbird pilot Capt. Rich MacDougall, a Canadian Idol finalist, sang a variety of pop and rock. His accompanist, Justin McRae, a former country star, also sang with him.
MacDougall said his song ‘Simple Things’ represented a change in outlook since he had an accident.
Local pianist Kelly Sapergia wound up the concert with a selection of well-known pieces including the ‘Music Box Dancer’ by Frank Mills.
“It’s good to be back playing again after four years,” said Sapergia.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net.
