The show goes on

Five and a half years ago, Eliza Swyers, Harvey Mouland and Craig Pardy were just dreaming of flight.

Now, says Swyers, "We have the runway and were ready to take off!"

The trio are the faces behind CATTA Productions based in Bonavista. The theatrical troupe and musical group have been making people laugh and cry with their stage presence for years. Now after five years of corralling their creativity under CATTA's umbrella, they have many more irons in the fire.

"For me personally, I believe we're at good place. Five years is a small amount of time to get where we are," says Swyers.

They've been getting more invitations, staging more productions, and making more contacts. "Our name is out there," she says.

Their recording studio is taking on new life as well. CATTA Productions, with Pardy at the mixing board, have produced four full length albums and several singles. He's had other inquiries, and Pardy says, "I can't keep busy enough."

Their mandate, community awareness through the arts, dictates a lot of what they do.

"There's so much talent, so many musicians. Helping these people do a CD or just do a song that means a lot to me," says PArdy. "We need to start a movement to ban together to promote local music."

The studio, upgraded recently to digital software and expanded to two rooms, is where he spends most of his time.

"I've been doing sound and mixing for 20 years, learning to navigate around the recording system," he says. He bought his own equipment eight years ago to "fart around and figure out how to use it."

"I'm still learning - it's an ongoing process."

Most recently, Pardy recorded full-length album for Tony Johnson. Three of the tracks are already on the VOCM and OZ-FM airwaves.

Late Bloomers bloom again

And the Late Bloomers - all four of them - will soon be together again. Harvey Mouland, after 15 years of commuting to Gander as a weather observer, will be moving home in March.

"After 15 years on the road, I finally get to come home," he says. Mouland will be taking on the role of assistant manager and technical director of the Garrick Theatre this spring.

Iris Tremblett is moving home from Labrador city in May.

"The four of us together again," says Pardy, barely holding a straight face.

The friends' success as a comedy group and their shared passion for local talent is what inspired CATTA Productions in the first place.

Though it's hard to imagine how any work gets done between the three of them cracking jokes and carrying on the way they do, and with their stage characters often making an appearance. Pardy dons the identity of Lester Lewis Levi Theopholis Nymshi Marsh. Mouland doffs his cap as Abner Aloysius (Mouland) and Lizzie Jane (Swyers) is a familiar favourite.

CATTA Productions Incorporated on July 9, 2004. Their plan for the next five and half years? Get their shows to more audiences, around the province and across Canada. The group is musing the possibility of touring Fort McMurray in Alberta. In the meantime, Swyers says, "I'd like to go to as many rural communities as possible. We have yet really to tap into parts of the province."

The troupe is also meeting with the Minster of Tourism in the coming months about their original production, Life on the Water.

The collection of stories and songs, is another project that's close to home.

"It's a program all about who we are as a people - it's the essence of who we are. Somehow it's being lost, but it's still who we are," says Swyers. "We need to commemorate who we are as people of the sea."

They're tight-lipped about what may come of the meeting, and the production, down the road.

Their unique blend of comedy and music is reminiscent of Buddy Wassisname and the other Fellows. The Late Bloomers take that comparison as a compliment - "We hope to follow in their footsteps," says Swyers.

"We have the same desire to promote Newfoundland culture and music," agrees Pardy, "It's important to make people laugh. We aspire to do justice to music and comedy like they have."

The Bloomer's have been on the road to Fogo Island, Twillingate and New World Island. They have upcoming shows in Placentia and New-Wes-Walley, all while gearing up for their regular season in Bonavista, This year will mark their third summer of regular performances at the church hall.

Taking flight

Swyers hopes to expand their productions to children's shows and community outreach drama therapy.

"Sometimes if you do songs and stories about addiction, for example, you can really get through to people. I think that's very important," she says.

"When you're performing, you can help bring out the best in people - you can say something encouraging you might not be able to say otherwise."

It's a philosophy she applies to their shows "outside the overpass" as well.

"You can make them feel that they do exist."

So far, the company has been doing everything on their own steam - and dime.

"When we started we were screedless," says Mouland. These days, things a little more secure - "We're not going in the hole," says Swyers. In fact, business is up 58% over the 2008 2009 season.

The Late Bloomers have performed for large crowds and small - the smallest audience had just nine people.

"That audience was better than come audiences of 50," says Swyers.

"The show must go on," agrees Pardy.

And the show will go on.

"It takes time and patience and faith in each other," says Swyers, before slipping into her stage persona. "I believes in we," says Lizzie with a toothless grin.

lbutton@thepacket.ca