Chips ‘n’ Splinters strikes chords with local audience members

David Dominy, left, and Kyle Fischer perform during Chips ‘n’ Splinters. Photos by Satina Tolman

By Satina Tolman
For The New Era

The annual Chips ‘n’ Splinters variety show lit up the Sweet Home High School auditorium Wednesday night with music, laughter and heartfelt community spirit.

The performance, directed by SHOCASE board member Shirley Austin, is organized by the nonprofit SHOCASE and features a rotating cast of local talent.

Last year’s show paired David Dominy with Ward Christman, but with Christman unavailable this year, Dominy was joined by longtime friend Kyle Fischer, a Jefferson resident and worship leader at Eastside Christian Church in Albany.

Their natural chemistry brought charm and energy to the stage.

Fischer, who grew up around theater and began acting at age 7, said it was “a lot of fun to get back in the spotlight.”

Dominy said this year’s show was “a blast.”

“We had so much fun!”

Performing alongside Fischer made the experience especially meaningful, he added, because of their personal connection and shared history.

The evening opened with playful banter about Christman’s absence, joking that he may have been abducted by Bigfoot — until Bigfoot himself wandered onstage, chasing the two men off and drawing gasps and giggles from children in the crowd.

Throughout the show, Dominy showcased his vocal and piano talents with stirring renditions of “Pure Imagination,” “What a Wonderful World,” and “You Raise Me Up.”

Fischer brought out his guitar for a crowd-pleasing performance of “Country Roads,” and the pair teamed up for a moving medley of “All Creatures of Our God and King” and “Gratitude.”

The production featured a blend of comedy, music, and community highlights. The 14 members of the Sportsman’s Holiday Junior Court were introduced, and then they delighted the audience with “Going on a Bear Hunt,” capped off by an appearance from “Rooty,” the A&W Bear.

The Sportsman’s Holiday Princess Court also took the stage to introduce themselves and share the names of the seven charities they’re supporting this year.

This year’s theme, “Camp Santiam,” inspired a Saturday Night Live-style skit featuring a campfire scene.

Jen Casteneda, Melody Jordan, Blake Keesecker, Joel Keesecker, Milt Moran and Lagea Mull played campers, while Matthew Stalheim, who stepped into his role just minutes before curtain, portrayed a quirky camp counselor.

Young camper Karly Ketsdever added charm as she periodically wandered the stage with binoculars, seemingly searching for Bigfoot.

Jaeric Cvitanich, a Sweet Home native discovered by Austin during the “Tap and Talent Search” at Tallman Brewing in Lebanon, brought down the house with his performance of “On the Other Line” and his original song, “Home Sweet Home.”

The heartfelt lyrics of Cvitanich’s debut resonated deeply with local audience members:

“There’s a welcome sign going 55 on the west side of town,
There’s a road service station with a hand-painted mural that’s starting to fade out…
We have bull elk screaming at the top of the Cascades,
We have kokanee and steelhead swimming in our rivers and lakes…
It doesn’t sound like much, but that’s what my home Sweet Home is all about…”

Cvitanich, who began writing music during the COVID-19 pandemic, performed his original songs onstage for the first time.

Melody Jordan, who has performed at the Rainbow Room in Hollywood, lit up the auditorium with an energetic rendition of “Soak Up the Sun.” Sporting sparkly thigh-high boots and aviator sunglasses, she delivered full Sheryl Crow vibes.

Amanda Wilde and Tori Clark brought retro flair with sky-high foam wigs and poodle skirts in a lively version of “Be My Baby,” drawing nostalgic cheers from the crowd.

Stalheim, a Sweet Home native who recently returned after serving in the U.S. Army, delivered a hauntingly accurate rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” followed by a humorous take on “Foolish Questions.”

“If you closed your eyes, you would’ve sworn Johnny Cash himself was on stage,” one audience member whispered.

Speaking about discovering his voice, Stalheim said: “My grandpa was from Arkansas, and we were both raging Johnny Cash fans. I grew up singing along to his music so much that I guess somewhere along the line we just synced up. I’ve been singing since I was a wee lad, but I’ve never done any show before. This was my first performance ever.”

Wilde returned to the stage in a more contemporary outfit to beautifully perform “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” paying homage to the wet weather that gives the Northwest its lush beauty.

Clark closed out the camp theme with a comedic rendition of “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” drawing big laughs.

In a town with deep Christian roots, the “All Creatures/Gratitude” medley performed by Dominy and Fischer struck a particularly heartfelt chord.

The show’s grand finale brought the entire cast together in front of a giant waving American flag projected across the backdrop as the audience rose to their feet in patriotic reverence for “God Bless the USA.”

Before the final song, Dominy honored his father, a Marine Corps veteran with a personal tribute.

“My dad is the ultimate patriot,” he said. “He bleeds red, white and blue.”

Director Austin was beaming after the show: “I think it went very well, and I am very pleased!” she said. Of the local talent featured, she added, “They are all awesome!”

Total
0
Share