Shuswap Theatre has scored a hit with Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s Bedtime Stories.
Directed by Paul Kirkwood-Hackett, the hilarious play features 15 characters, five actors and one bed.
From a clumsily inept stripper to sleazy radio shock jock Eddie Nighthawk Nichols, a shy middle-aged couple, their wild-child teen, an aging rock star, a man meeting an unrequited love and a pair of thieves, underneath they share a commonality – they are looking for love and acceptance.
Trying to move up to a more prestigious radio station, Eddie Nighthawk pays a couple $5,000 to make love on the air.
The results are hilarious, as are several other scenes. Laughter is tempered with poignant moments – a woman visits a dying man she spurned years ago.
Two thieves discover a shocking secret. An aging rock star is confronted by a groupie.
Like Russian nesting dolls, each scene uncovers another surprise, all of which are wrapped up beautifully in the final scene.
This is one of the better productions to appear on the Shuswap Theatre stage – something that has been happening over the past couple of years.
Longtime theatre volunteer Randy Brogden began behind the scenes and continues to provide incredible support in building fabulous sets.
He has appeared and grown in many productions and is hysterical in his portrayal of three characters.
Laura Noakes is equally hilarious as three very different characters, as is Mike Nash as Nighthawk, Nick and Charlie.
Newcomers to Shuswap Theatre but not to fine acting, Dave Wolkowski and Astrid Varnes are welcome additions to the local stage.
Varnes trained as an actor at UBC and has a masters in applied theatre from UVic. She leads the seniors’ theatre group and teaches acting in the community. She adapts well and with hilarity to her characters, be it a self-absorbed woman in a loveless marriage to an aggressive fan.
Wolkowski also brings acting acumen, having been involved in numerous theatre, film and television projects over the past 20 years in Edmonton.
There is no room to list all the talented members of the crew behind the scenes but Kirkwood-Hackett sums it up well in his director’s notes:
“Thanks to my wonderfully talented cast and crew for all their hard work in bringing their characters to life,” he says. “To my technical crew and backstage crew – you guys are the best.”
Bedtime Stories runs at 7:30 p.m. to Oct. 31. Sunday performances take place at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Intwined Fibre Arts on Hudson Avenue. For more information, or to buy tickets online, visit www.shuswaptheatre.com.
