LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
Attend a play in Qualicum Bay this weekend and you’ll be transported to New York in the 1940s, having a meal with an Italian Family, and you may just find yourself laughing out loud.
The interactive dinner theatre comedy is called Tea-A-Ria and it’s being presented by the Qualicum Bay Theatre Group this Saturday night, April 5 and Sunday afternoon, April 6.
The play was written by Laurie Nienhaus, a friend of director Donna Prima, whom she met while living in the United States.
“It was a show we performed down there for nearly a year and it’s such a fun show I wanted to put it on here.”
The play surrounds a traditional Italian family in which the grand daughter decides to open a tea room. The whole family interferes with her plans and hilarity ensues, Prima explained. The show involves some British tourists, an organized crime-linked bodyguard and a seductive hussy.
Rather than perform up on stage, the actors will be mingling amongst the dinner tables where guests will be dining.
Members of the theatre group are preparing lasagna, garlic bread and salad on Saturday evening and guests that night will also enjoy a gelato-style dessert and tea or coffee. Beer and wine will also be available. On Sunday, ticket holders will get an Italian platter with bruschetta. There will also be a gluten-free alternative.
Music will be performed by the KSS Jazz Band’s The Jazzavoir Dogs, who will be dressed up and performing old jazzy standards.
This is the second show The Qualicum Bay Theatre Group has put on since forming last year. Prima said she thinks people will like the show because it’ll be out of the ordinary for most folks.
“It’s gonna be a different experience, (the guests) are supposed to be made to feel like they are part of the excitement.”
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday night and dinner service starts at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 including dinner.
On Sunday lunch will be served at 1 p.m. and the matinee show starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 including lunch. Get tickets ahead of time only, find them at the Salish Sea Market and the Georgia Park Store in Bowser, The Shoe Inn in Qualicum Beach and Mulberry Bush Bookstores in Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
The theatre group’s next endeavour will be a four-week improv acting course at the Lighthouse Community Centre, culminating in a improv comedy theatre night.
Stay tuned for more details on that event coming up in The NEWS.
The Lighthouse Community Hall is located at 240 Lions Way in Qualicum Bay. For more on the hall visit:
www.communityhall.ca.
