Residents perform original play
Nicole Tavenner
Residents of Polson Health and Rehabilitation sing “Silent Night” during a presentation of the original play, “A Christmas Wish.”
Nicole Tavenner
Families gathers in the Polson Health and Rehabilitation dining hall to watch their parents and grandparents perform.
Nicole Tavenner
Kathleen Sweeney plays piano as Alice Estes plays the jingle bell.
Nicole Tavenner
Young Shelby Weiss notes a change of scene from The North Pole to Grandma’s House.
Nicole Tavenner
A resident reindeer pulls the sleigh with her walker;
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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Pageants aren’t just for schoolchildren.
The day before Christmas Eve, residents of Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center performed a musical play written just for them by physical therapist Kathleen Sweeney.
“I like to have a creative outlet, and this seemed the perfect activity for the residents,” said Sweeney, who formerly ran a theater camp.
“I tried to capitalize on all the talents they had and incorporate them into the story.”
One gentleman helped her edit the story, a woman resident created the costumes, others worked on props during arts and crafts time, one resident played the piano while others acted and sang.
Grandchildren of the residents also participated, carrying signboards and holding a wireless microphone to project the voices of beloved grandmas and grandpas.
Residents practiced for weeks and looked forward to each rehearsal.
“They got more excited each day,” Sweeney said.
Titled “A Christmas Wish,” the story told the tale of a young girl in the village who crumpled up her long wish list when she heard her grandparents say that the church had lost its manger. Instead of asking Santa for gifts for herself, she asked Santa for a bed for baby Jesus.
The day of the play, the audience comprising family, friends and children from a local day care filled the dining hall to watch the production.
“The residents loved it,” Rehabilitation Manager Jamie Maki said. “They got to sing Christmas carols and act a little. It seemed like everyone really, really enjoyed it.”
Sweeney added that the production was actually a present.
“I felt like they could give a gift to their kids and grandkids,” she said. “It was a way to say, ‘we can do this.’”
