News

Reflections of Red brings fun and frolic
to full house at PWL Stettler

June 12th, 2019

The always entertaining Red Skelton Comedy Tribute Show touched down at Points West Living Stettler for an evening performance on June 6. Anticipation was high, as residents and family members started arriving in the main dining room 45 minutes before the start of the show to get good seats (and a pre-show snack of juice and cookies). By the time Red took the stage, every available spot was taken.

Professional clown

A professional clown and actor based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Al Greenwood has been impersonating Red Skelton throughout North America since 2005. He calls himself a ‘Red Skelton Tributarian Extraordinaire’, and he’ll get no challenge to that title following his performance in Stettler.

Keeping it fresh

How does he keep his routine fresh? According to PWL Stettler Recreation Therapist, Lisa Smith, before the show, Al said, “I never know exactly what I am going to do until I start doing it.” He was clearly on his toes when he responded to a resident’s question at the top of the show. When asked where he was from, ‘Red’ replied, “From my mother!”

“Al had many components to his Red Skelton show,” says Lisa, “including pantomime, stand-up comedy, and performing Red’s famous character ‘Freddie the Freeloader’. Residents were smiling, laughing and genuinely enjoying themselves.”

Laughing like a kid again

“Families members who attended had positive reviews as well,” Lisa says. “Bonnie McCrindle, whose father lives in PWL Stettler told a care partner, ‘Dad was laughing like a kid again, and I haven’t seen him enjoy himself that much in probably a year!’. Another family member mused, ‘It was like sitting on the couch in our living room with our parents watching Red Skelton’.”

“The evening was a huge success, with lots of fun and frolic.”

More good clean fun

Several Points West Living communities - including PWL Heritage House in Vegreville, PWL Wainwright, PWL Lloydminster, PWL Peace River, PWL Slave Lake, PWL Lac La Biche, and PWL Cold Lake - have enjoyed the Reflections of Red show in the past few weeks. Upcoming shows in PWL Wetaskiwin on June 14 and PWL Red Deer on June 16 are sure to tickle the funny bone with good clean fun and frolic. 

Photo: Red Skelton (Al Greenwood) mucks it up with audience members, residents Tom Major, Gordon Jacobson and Jake Klassen, at his performance at PWL Stettler on June 6.

More photos at Flickr: Reflections of Red brings fun and frolic to full house at PWL Stettler