With the holiday season howling into Winnipeg, an upcoming play fittingly deals with notions of the make believe.

On Wed., Dec. 5, Merlyn Productions will conclude its 2012 fall season at the Ellice Theatre with Wind of a Thousand Tales.

"With December being a month that is very focused on holidays and families, we try to select scripts that play to all ages, to children, adults, grandparents, and stories that will be a delight for entire families to attend," said Merlyn founder and director John Chase, a West End resident.

The play, penned by John Glore, centres around Kimberly-Kay, a "practical, no nonsense" young girl who prefers her mother reading her the encyclopedia before bed rather than a story book.

Following the bedtime banter, the play’s namesake – the Wind of a Thousand Tales – blows in through the window, spiriting Kimberly-Kay away from her bedroom to share with her folk tales from Mexico, Japan and Europe in the hopes of helping her discover her imagination.

"One of beautiful elements of this play is its scope and variety," Chase said.

"You have stories both real and fantastical, stories about truth and morals, romance, and stories for pure comic enjoyment all bundled together in the same play."

Written in 1991, the play is one of the more contemporary works Merlyn has staged. Chase has been wanting to produce the play for years after first seeing it performed during his years working with the Fantasy Theatre for Children. It will be Merlyn’s 100th production.

"I wanted something that held past meaning for me that I was looking for an opportunity to stage," Chase said.

Meanwhile, Chase is still awaiting word regarding the fate of the theatre. In August, New Life Ministries announced it was selling the block.

Chase said he is hopeful he can continue renting the venue throughout winter.

Wind of a Thousand Tales runs Dec. 5 to 8 at the Ellice Theatre at  585 Ellice Ave. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. There will be a matinee Sat., Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, or $7 for seniors.

Visit www.merlyn.biz or call 204-415-2714.

- Staff