The first production of Gallery 7 Theatre’s 2011-12 theatre season will take audiences to a time and place where ducktails and muscle cars ruled and social order was maintained through swagger and, occasionally, savagery.
The Outsiders, Christopher Sergel’s stage adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s tale about youth caught in a violent clash between social classes in the 1960s, hits the stage at MEI Theatre in Abbotsford, Nov. 4 to 19.
Langley’s Corryn Ginter plays Cherry, the Soc who catches the eye of Ponyboy, a young Greaser, creating added friction between the already hostile groups.
When Johnny kills a Soc during an unprovoked attack, tensions between the two rival gangs simmer to a boiling point and all out war seems inevitable.
Seen through the eyes of Ponyboy, a young man haunted by the poetry of Robert Frost, the story progresses to the discovery that despite the circumstances, hope is never gone, virtue can reside in even the worst of characters and change is only one decision away.
“This is an important production for our community,” said Ken Hildebrandt, Gallery 7’s artistic director.
“It explores the lives of young people seeking refuge in gangs. It also explores the people behind the tough exterior, revealing the pain, anxiety and more importantly, the hopes and dreams that reside in their soul.”
The Outsiders runs Nov. 4 and 5, Nov. 10 to 12 and Nov. 17 to 19 at 7:30 p.m. with additional discounted matinees on Nov. 5 and 12 at 2 p.m. at the MEI Auditorium, 4081 Clearbrook Rd., Abbotsford.
Tickets for evening performances are $18 adults; $16 seniors (65+) and students; $15 groups (10 or more) and $10 for children 12 and under.
Tickets for matinee performances are $13 general and $10 for children 12 and under. They can be purchased at the House of James, 2743 Emerson St., Abbotsford or by calling 604-852-3701 or toll free at 1-800-665-8828.
For complete details on Gallery 7 Theatre’s production of The Outsiders and the rest of the theatre’s season, visit their website at www.gallery7theatre.com.
