Dogs help cats in benefit show

Dining dogs Photo: Robin Priest

DOGGIES DINING – Two dogs enjoy rehearsal for the Dogs at the Café segment of the Responsible Pet Care Animal Shelter’s benefit show.

Robin suggests cropping the dining dog pic so that the humans can't be as easily seen.

OXFORD HILLS – There is quite a mystery in the Oxford Hills area ... people want to know: Who let the dogs out? One clue ... it’s all for the cats!

On Thursday night, April 14, the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Eastman Auditorium will be the site of a benefit show, where dogs will be center stage to help out their furry friends at the Responsible Pet Care Animal Shelter.

There will be a boogie, woogie bugle dog, a hoop-jumping dog, and even an egg-gathering Easter dog!

According to Cynthia Westcott, director of the show, the audience will be treated to many talented dogs and humans as well.

“It’s going to be a great show!” exclaimed the director. “Besides these talented dogs and singers, the audience will get to see the animals available for adoption. As well as the workers and volunteers, who take such wonderful care of these homeless felines and workers at Pawsibilites Thrift Shoppe.”

A very talented Rottweiler will be gathering Easter Eggs and putting them in the basket as a variety of pooches exhibit their Easter finery in The Easter Parade.

Jazzy, Lilly and Liberty, who belong to Anita Loring, will be getting a royal grooming treatment while Dawn Cormier sings, I Enjoy Being a Girl.

“A hilarious café scene takes place after Dawson Hill presents his Piano Fun as the café entertainer,” added the director. “The doggie duo orders food and devours it as male singers chant out the song from Lady and the Tramp.”

“Kermit the Frog is impersonated by Joe Cormier, as an added attraction at the café,” she added.

If that gets the audience hungry, shelter workers and board members will provide scrumptious goodies at intermission.

In its fourth year of entertaining the crowd, the show will have several outstanding soloist and ensemble singers from the chorus, including Jenn St.Pierre, Tommy McFarlane, Allisa Mann, Ron Blake, Dawn Cormier, Jim Bennett, Peter Lawton, Joe Cormier and Mariah Lee.”

Benefit goers will also be entertained by guest performers with such known names as The Mollyockett Barbershop and the Jaci’s Jazzettes. And there are several selections from the male and treble ensemble.

“The crowd is always thrilled with performances from our, two award-winning Barbershop quartets from the the Downeasters,” said Westcott. “They are the Back Bay Four and the Bay City Sound. The delightful Gentempo sisters, known as the Neveaeh Dancers, will bring their creative act to the stage.”

Helping Westcott with this enormous venue is her husband Al, who has spent hours creating the perfect lighting for the event. Virginia Noble will once again tickle the ivories and Sally Riman, assistant director has been with the show for four years.

“I’d especially like to thank Cynthia Gurschick for all her work with the animals for the show,” smiled Westcott. “She has been a great addition to the benefit.”

Others involved with the benefit are: production assistants, Jenn St.Pierre and Patricia Jillson; choreographer, Jaci Presby; sound technician, Jim Riman and projections designer, Paula Cox.

Proceeds help support the work at Responsible Pet Care Animal Shelter, located on the Waterford Road in Norway providing food, care and medicine for homeless felines. It also helps to sponsor spay/neuter clinics and rabies clinics.

“Our area is in dire need of assisting the wonderful animals,” explained Westcott. “The economy is causing more and more people to seek help or to surrender their pets.”

The show will be at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at Books –N-Things, the Valhalla School Store, from cast members or at the door; price is $9 for adults and $5 for students and seniors (62+).

Precious pooch Photo: Robin Priest

TRICKS FOR SHOW — Ginger does her tricks for the Responsible Pet Care Animal Shelter’s benefit show which will be held on Thursday, April 14. Her owner is Sally Bradford.