If you give a mouse a cookie, it will leave a trail of  crumbs, hair and half of the kitchen on the floor.
 That’s the premise of New West Theatre latest theatre for young audiences production of  “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie , based on the popular Laura Numeroff penned children”s book.

 The show runs in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre until Jan. 7.

The two man production starring Willie Banfield as a manic young mouse and Kelsey Flower as the boy, trying to keep the mouse under control, starts innocuously enough with the innocent mouse asking the boy for a cookie, which quickly accelerates into complete chaos.

In the process of getting the mouse a glass of milk, helping him cut his hair and attempting to clean up the kitchen, the two bond, the boy learns about the mouse’s parents and life and starts to identify with him, but things spiral out of control in a  blur of  cartwheels, leaps and pratfalls.

 If you are looking for a fun family New Year’s Eve, then check out the sixteenth annual New Year‘s Eve Family Fest at Exhibition Park.
The popular annual event  attracts an average of 6,500 people each year who enjoy a variety of  family-friendly activities geared toward the 12 and under set,  including face-painting,  numerous astro jumps and clowns roaming through the crowd.

“Sixteen years ago, we asked ourselves what could we do for the kids,” noted Doug  Kryzanowski manager if corporate relations, marketing  Events and Entertainment. He noted the family festival is a way for Exhibition Park to give back to the community, so all of the activities are free.

“It’s our contribution to the community,” he said.

He noted  since the Exhibition was formed, their mandate has been  to provide a gathering place for the community.

“So this event is just fulfilling our mandate,” he said.

“ We have a plethora of astro jumps, and perennial favourite Rainbow the Clown is back,” he enthused.

They have a lot of generous local businesses who step up to help fund the event.

New West Theatre, Lethbridge’s answer to Up With People or any beach side all inclusive resort revue show, are guaranteed to light up your holiday season with their winter music/ comedy revue, ‘Light it Up.’

Jay Whitehead and Erica  Hunt will get you laughing right form the opening bit as they riff on  the phrase “Light It Up” as it pertains to a stressed out looking Whitehead’s quitting smoking.
 But it is only an act.
 The cast kicks things off with a hot version of Kiss’s “Shout It Out,” done Broadway style.
 Everybody gets to shine equally in “Light it Up.”
 Erica Hunt unleashes her leather lunged lethal pipes on a hot version of “Stand By Your Man.”

 Jocelyn Haub dons a guitar for a beautiful version of Taylor Swift’s “White Horse” and shines on Adele’s number one hit  “Rolling in the Deep.”

 Vocal director Kathy Zaborsky beams ear to ear like she couldn’t be happier anywhere else before bringing a tear to your eye on a version of Leonard Cohen’s  “Hallelujah,” backed by Bente Hansen on a grand piano.

Jessica Ens shows some top notch dance moves backing Devon Brayne singing “Jessie’s Girl and heads up a  hilarious send up of “Let’s Get Physical” near the beginning of the show as well.

 Meanwhile Kyle Gruninger returns to New West to show he can hit those high notes on a couple songs including a duet with Hunt on “Don’t Stop Believing” and on a medley of John  Denver hits including “Sunshine On My Shoulders,” Rocky Mountain High and Country Roads.