Mason enjoyed a jolly start to the Christmas season last Wednesday evening at the Riata Service Organization’s third annual Holiday Live Show. The donation-only event at the Odeon Theater drew a large crowd and earned approximately $4,500 for the Mason Volunteer Fire Department, thanks to the community’s support.
This year’s play, written by Shannon Worrell, with some suggestions from past year’s writer Laura Austin Tallent, found Santa and Mrs. Claus (James & Shannon Worrell) becoming Texans, having just moved to Mason for good. The Claus’ host a dinner at their new ranch home, inviting guests Mother Nature (Juanita Keller), Jack Frost (David Beaver), Cupid (Dave Ince), Father Time (Ron Birk), the Easter Bunny (Thom Canfield) and the Tooth Fairy (Amy Zesch). Bernard (Hal Zesch), as the oversized elf with a particularly memorable role, assists Santa, while Jingle the Elf (Melany Canfield) keeps everyone organized. Other elves included Chel Terrell, Rosy Horne, Susan Coe, Rene Ince, Nonie Stringer, Kay Evans, Alberta Birk, Toni Hurlbut, Trudy Irwin, Sherrie Patrick, Carol Jean Reardon, Laura Tallent, Kay Knight and Cathy Grace. Amelia Zesch and Becky Griffith, as reindeer, rounded out the cast.
Scott Zesch provided the beautiful piano accompaniment for the show. Several guest singers graced the stage, including Myles Dyson, Adalie Thomas, Keith and Tina Jupe, Valera Corbin and Benny Fred Kothman, Chel Terrell, Mike Keller, Justin McFarland and daughter Elizabeth McFarland, Spider Johnson and James Worrell. Four Mason Volunteer firefighters also sang a Christmas tune.
