It’s one of the best casts he’s ever worked with, and the 100 Mile House Performing Arts Society’s upcoming comedy will surely draw plenty of good laughs, says director and seasoned member Chris Adams.
The local community theatre group’s production of The Melville Boys is slated for March 26-28.
The cast includes Gina Gigliotti, Lacey Venner, Alex Martin and Brian Weir.
Gigliotti, Venner and Martin are all newcomers to the Performing Arts Society.
However, you wouldn’t know that speaking with the director who says he couldn’t ask for a better cast in his directorial debut.
Rehearsals are moving ahead of schedule, with only the fine-tuning left to do.
“They’re fantastic,” Adams says of the actors. “They take direction well. It’s like they’ve been doing this forever. It’s going to be a great show.”
The Melville Boys is written by renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster. It is set at a cottage on a lake. A monkey wrench is thrown into the somewhat serious weekend plans of two brothers when they meet a pair of sisters, and hilarity ensues.
Another one of Foster’s plays, Office Hours, was presented to much fanfare in 100 Mile House last fall.
Adams has in the past played the part of the older brother in The Melville Boys in a different production, so it’s a play he knows well.
“Most of his plays are very funny,” Adams says of Foster. “But there are some serious themes in here as well, which come out at the later end of the play.
It’s one of the best plays I’ve ever done. I knew it would go over really well here.”
100 Mile House Performing Arts Society president Renee Larochelle says it’s exciting to see new members this season.
“We definitely have achieved one of our goals of opening up and encouraging new people to come on in. Even though our productions are smaller, we’re still able to have shows that interest people to participate.
“It seems the community has enjoyed and embraced theatre in 100 Mile House. We are always welcoming new people to come out.”
Tickets for The Melville Boys are $15, and they on sale at Didi’s Boutique and Donex Pharmacy on Birch Avenue in 100 Mile House. Showtimes at Martin Exeter Hall are 7 p.m. on March 26; 7 p.m. on March 27; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on March 28.
Adams says he’s excited for the performances to start, and adds he’s really appreciative of the folks behind the scenes, the production team and crew.
“I could not have done this without them.”
