The creator of Squamish's homegrown television show, Down by the Docks, has taken the show on tour this summer. Daryl Robb, Leroy the Lobster and friends are in Alberta for over a month this summer singing songs and entertaining youth in 29 communities while travelling over 4000 km.
"The best part is the kids," said Robb. "They get up, sing along, hug the lobster."
Although Down by the Docks was inspired by Robb's experiences growing up on the east coast, he says Squamish is always prominently featured in his performances. And Alberta audiences are keen to learn more. Kids are asking plenty of questions about the town they know as the heart of the Olympics. And some taxpayers have grilled Robb about Highway 99 construction because federal money is being poured into the project.
Robb said he's also learning a lot and has seen so many of Alberta's more unusual attractions - like the world's largest perogy, a huge mushroom, and a UFO landing pad - that he's got plenty of material for Down by the Dock's new season beginning in September. Watch for a new set and a crop of fresh new faces to join the regular cast of characters. As of July 2005, Down By the Docks will have more than 12 local kids performing in front and behind the camera. Robb held auditions in Squamish and says there's no shortage of talented kids in town.
"I really had a hard time choosing the actors," he said.
He plans to add more characters to the show and come up with new Halloween and Christmas specials.
"But it'll be hard to beat last year's ten days of Christmas," he said, when local celebrities made guest appearances.Down By The Docks is now on TV in more than 150,000 homes in North America. Kids in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, North-West Territories, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Maine, California, Michigan, Missouri and Vermont are enjoying the many adventures of Leroy, Cobo the Pink Oiseaux, and their young [email protected]
