Marlene Wenschlag was born in Trail in 1932 and has resided in Prince George for the past 50 years.
Her first job was at the local telegraph office in Trail.
When she arrived in Prince George in 1964 she started a group called the Calorie Counters.
The group quickly grew to nearly 100 members. Marlene conducted two exercise classes for her group at the Health Unit.
“We all had loads of fun and I met many wonderful ladies during those years,” Marlene said.
Marlene and lifelong friend Helen Webber made sure that all the children, including her three young daughters, made it to swimming lessons.
They had so much fun that both Marlene and Helen signed up for swimming lessons and then went on to earn their lifesavers Bronze Cross.
“I started working for the School District and the City teaching swimming,” Marlene said, who is now 82 years old. “I loved the work and the people. I taught swimming for nearly 25 years and I retired in 1994. People still come up to me and tell me that I taught them how to swim.
“Time went by and one day I happened to attend a show at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre (ECRA). I sat back and watched my friends George Fedyk (deceased), Zella Taylor (deceased), Freda Greenless and Rose Dorish act in some hilarious skits.
“I enjoyed it so much that I attended a second showing the next day.
“I was invited to join the group and before I knew what had happened I was in charge of the Drama Club.
“My introduction to that first show took place in ECRA’s old and very small building with a makeshift stage. That was 18 years ago.
“Life moved on and we now have a great stage with even more great actors. Our goal is still the same and that is to make people laugh.
My friends, both on and off the stage call me the ‘Drama Queen’ and I quite like that.
“I am always looking for new material for our skits and new members are always welcome. We are also lucky and thankful to have extra entertainment provided by our good friends The Country Cuzzins.
The members of the Drama Club are a wonderful bunch of dedicated people - dedicated to the cause of trying to make people laugh.
“Our next show is this coming weekend and it is called Time to Laugh Again.”
The dates for the show are: Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday March 1 and 2 at 2 pm.
Tickets are available at the ECRA office and at the door at 1692 Tenth Avenue.
“This is just another great show to keep you laughing,” she said.
According to the dictionary I would define a Drama Queen as a woman who overreacts at little things; someone who turns something unimportant into a major deal and someone who blows things way out of proportion when ever the chance is given.
Thanks to Marlene she has the entire drama club at ECRA behaving in this same manner and their audience is rolling in laughter at every show.
February birthdays that I know about: Darlene Meyers, Catherine Bond (93), Bob Carrier, Lloyd Annis, Ton and Amy Vander Ploeg, Sophie Chartrand, Kirsten Redding, Aurela Kronebusch, Paul Steindl, Iris Frenkel, Rosetta Mauro, Frank Deni, Lillian Peter, Verna Wright, Judy Fisher, Clarence Boudreau, Stan New, Kathy Iselmoe, Joan McKay, Helen Wlasitz, Wendy Wlasitz, Helen Leckie, Peter Osis, Mary Brizan, Helen Dahl, Marlene Johnson, Gertraud and Roman Hildebrandt, Betty Pearson, Raymond Roch, Andrea McKenzie, Evelyn Porter, Delores Bircher, Ingrid Maack, Judy Johnson (JJ), Jack McKinley, Edna Stitt, Muriel Goodson, Sonya Martin, Chris Jacobs, Joyce Antonyk, Millie Christenson, Doris Dittaro, Irene Carbert, Manfred Hamm, Neil Peterson and Mike St. Germain.
Anniversaries: 61 years for Mauno and Eleanor Laitinen, 49 years for Ernie and Diana Myers, 12 years for Lino and Kathy Nadalin, and eight years for Dave and Wendy Wlasitz.
