By Laura Jean Grant -The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A Cape Breton trio are set to hit the road again, ready to bring their unique brand of holiday humour to venues across Nova Scotia

Bette MacDonald, Maynard Morrison and musician Ralph Dillon will begin a cross-Nova Scotia tour of "Tis The Season 5" Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Strathspey Place in Mabou

"It's our fifth year. I can't believe it. It was supposed to just be a one-nighter and here we are five years later," said MacDonald.

In those five short years, that one-night show has transformed into a two-week, 14-show run, which this year will include four Cape Breton stops — the opening night show in Mabou, Saturday at SAERC in Port Hawkesbury, and Dec. 16 and Dec. 17 at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay to close out the tour.

MacDonald said the "Tis the Season" works because it's comic relief during what can be a hectic time for people and families.

"There's an emotional investment in the holidays and everything that surrounds it and it's a wonderful time, people love it, but it's also a little stressful and a little crazy so that lends itself to comedy very easily," she said. "I think people like to get out and have a laugh around this time of year and you also reminisce quite a bit in a Christmas show and I think people enjoy that and we hope to give them a good laugh."

This year's show will feature the characters audiences have come to know and love including Mary Morrison, Martin MacKinnon, Wayne Tomko, Cujo, Da, and Fr. Gillis.

"The characters in this show actually are dealing with the same kind of things that we're all dealing with around the holidays," said MacDonald, noting the show will feature some brand new material as well as sketches that have become audience favourites over the show's first four years.

"Tis the Season" will be a return to familiar characters for MacDonald, who has recently taken on a new role for the upcoming CBC TV comedy series, "Mr. D." starring comedian Gerry Dee,

"That's what I refer to as my dream TV job, because it's a small role so you don't have tons of responsibility but it's so much fun, especially with this cast. It's such a funny, funny cast. Gerry Dee is hilarious and he's a lovely guy too which makes a big, big difference," she said.

MacDonald is playing character Trudy Walsh, a school secretary by day and lead singer in a Fleetwood Mac tribute band by night, in "Mr. D," which is set to premiere in January.

But for now, MacDonald is excited to travel across Nova Scotia with "Tis the Season 5."

"We really look forward to this time of year and getting on the road. We can't wait to do it," she said.

The Port Hawkesbury show is sold out. Tickets to the show in Mabou are $30 and can be purchased through the Strathspey Place box office which can be reached by phone at 945-5300. Tickets to the shows in Glace Bay are $39.50 and are available through the Savoy box office by phone at 842-1577, or online at www.savoytheatre.com.

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