Neither elves nor angels shared the stage last weekend with Linda Dziwak when she crooned a jazzy version of “Let It Snow” at a holiday variety show.
The audience roared with laughter when Dziwak sang her song to a lifesize cutout of the romance novel cover model Fabio.
“I didn’t want to just stand there,” she explained. “I was at a party supply store and (a sign) said, `Take (Fabio) home for $24.99.”‘
Dziwak couldn’t resist, and neither could the audience. They laughed and applauded often during the Christmas show sponsored by the Palos Hills and Hickory Hills Park Districts.
The show, which had three performances, attracted an overall attendance of about 400 people. It was the debut of the Palos Hills Theater Troupe, which was founded by Christine Mikulskis of Palos Hills.
“We wanted to bring a theater troupe to the Palos area,” she said. “We thought a Christmas show would be a good introduction.”
There were 30 acts, including songs, comedy skits and dance numbers. Twenty-three people sought the spotlight, including children, teens and adults.
Dressed in a green gown with a garland of ivy on her head, Zivi Silgalis led a group of 2- and 3-year-olds in a song about a snowflake.
The tots, who were dressed as angels, completed their song without so much as a halo falling or a child wandering offstage.
Silgalis, who lives in Palos Hills, breathed a sigh of relief.
“When they’re that young, you never know what they’re going to do,” she said. “Every show is different.”
Silgalis said she hopes the theater troupe becomes a permanent fixture in the southwest suburbs. She said the show was a good way to celebrate the holidays, and a theater troupe would provide a way for people of all ages to shine.
“It’s a wonderful way of having community relations strengthened,” she said.
