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12+ The Mantini Sisters th wellâ€"known Christmas songs and a bit of comedy, the Mantini Sisters will help kick off the holiday season this year with two performances in Waterlo0. The Canadian sisters are kicking off the Christmas season in Waterloo "1t certainly puts you in the festive mood," said Sandra Mantini of the varietyâ€" style show she puts on with her sisters, Barâ€" bara and Ann Mantini. The trio will take to the decorated stage at the Waterloo Entertainment Centre in December with a show that spun out of their Christmas album, the Mantini Sisters Christâ€" mas, released three years ago. "So we‘ve used songs from the album and we added more songs to make a twoâ€"hour show. And we added comedy â€" all our shows have a touch of comedy in them," Sandra said. Originally from Niagaraâ€"onâ€"theâ€"Lake, Ont., the sisters, who have four other sibâ€" lings, have been singing together for more than 20 years. _ Their Vp;iénts loved all kinds of music, from jazz and country to rhythm and blues and pop, and that‘s a trait their children inherited. "We always had records or the radio going in the house," she said. "And we grew up in an era when television variety shows were big." The sisters started their careers as solo performers, with Sandra and Barbara singing in a wedding band. From there they got into musical theatre before uniting as a sister act. WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, November 14, 2007 They now produce their own shows, including Home for the Holidays, which is playing at the uptown Waterlao theatre on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There they‘ll sing popular tunes such as It‘s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Silent Night and I‘ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, as well as their version of the Chipmunks, without the helium of course. 1 L0 I W tcuim ie c og e One part that stands out for her is when the sisters sing The 12 Days of Christmas, accompanied by a fourâ€"piece band. I C Hus ons Pmn nanten sns T "It takes us forever to get through the song, and it‘s a long song to begin with," Sandra said, adding she doesn‘t want to give too many of the jokes away. vauiull aidntae ie aeteae s old T "There‘s always one sister who has to take centre stage and then the other two get aggravated." © 5. xt e w gn o eolen on n VPe(;pIe- getfia‘klck out of that," Sandra ARemimes The audience will also hear an original By Jennirer OrmstON Chronicle Staff The Mantini song, called A Christmas Prayer, written for the Mantini Sisters by Mark Lalama, a pianist on Canadian Idol. s NU SAOZC Couis oo oc rang s on eeeneinee e The trio brought the show to the Waterâ€" loo Entertainment Centre last year as well, and were received by a "wonderful and accepting" audience, Sandra said. "We do have a following in this area," she said, adding they‘ve worked with the Kâ€"W Symphony and Drayton Entertainment in the past. "It‘s more of a homecoming when we ARTS FOCUS i Sisters will perform two Christmas shows at the Waterloo Entertainment Centre, come back to the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo area because we have performed here for so many years." . w o in . Mn mesunl Theatreâ€"goers are in for an upbeat show, one that plays with their emotions. "I think we need a lot of happiness in this world, more shows that are upbeat and posiâ€" tive," Sandra said. "So you can come into a theatre for a couple of hours and forget your problems if you have any and just enjoy (it}) with your friends and family, have a few laughs, and maybe a cry or two." at 24 King St. N., in uptown Waterloo on Dec manager of marketing and publicity, said Home for the Holidays is a fun, familyâ€" friendly show. "And it‘s got a lot of holiday spirit," she said. "I think it‘s a nice show to start Decemâ€" ber off with because it will put you in the fesâ€" tive mood." For information or tickets, which cost $37.50, $33 for seniors and $14 for children, go to the website www.waterlooentertainâ€" mentcentre.com or call 519â€"883â€"0300. Genevieve DeMerchant, the theatre‘s suBMITTED PHOTO