This city's newest professional theatre company, Blue Bridge, is ending its inaugural year with loud applause after a successful holiday fundraiser Dec. 19 and laurels from local critics who presented four "bests" to both the fledgling company and its director.

Managing director Anne Wootten said the weekend event at McPherson Playhouse -- a reading of It's a Wonderful Life as a radio play complete with sound effects, and an art auction -- raised $16,600.

In addition, Victoria's annual Critic's Choice Spotlight Awards -- juried by the theatre critics from Monday Magazine, CBC Radio and the Times Colonist -- named the Blue Bridge production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman best professional production of 2009. David Ferry, who portrayed Willy Loman, was named best actor.

The company's founder and artistic director, Brian Richmond, also received best director for his Phoenix Theatre production of Dark of the Moon, which was named best community production.

Blue Bridge was founded in 2008 to offer, "early career theatre artists a chance to fill significant creative, production and administrative roles alongside some of Canada's leading theatre professionals," he said, adding the playbill is drawn from classic plays of modern and ancient western theatre traditions.

The second season opens June 10 with Joe Orton's 1960s farce, Loot, followed by Tennessee Williams' steamy Pulitzer Prize winner A Streetcar Named Desire in July, and the Canadian musical Hank Williams -- The Show He Never Gave, by Maynard Collins in August. (Tickets or passes to all three shows at 250-386-6121.)