By Lawrence Loiseau
The 100 Mile House Performing Arts Society will be presenting the comedy Over the River & Through the Woods from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3.
The acting troupe has been rehearsing at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church but relocated to Martin Exeter Hall on Nov. 15 and will rehearse there until opening night, says Karen Smith.
“Rehearsals are going excellently. It has been interesting to see the actors progress up until now.”
Directed by husband-and-wife team Gordon and Karen Smith, the Joe DiPietro comedy is about the love of family. It takes place in a house in Hoboken, New Jersey and portrays the lives of two sets of grandparents and their grandson.
Nick Cristiano visits his loving grandparents for dinner every Sunday, a visit which is regulated by the tradition of three Fs: family, faith and food.
Suddenly, the young business executive announces his plans to leave, Karen notes.
“Although it focuses on the grandparents, the fun doesn’t really begin until their grandson announces that he is moving.”
Nick is offered a job promotion in Seattle, far away from his grandparents.
His grandparents spend the rest of the play scheming comical ways to convince their grandson to stay in Hoboken.
It is not the first play that Gordon and Karen have directed together. They also directed The Art of Murder – another play by Joe DiPietro – that ran in 100 Mile House on Feb. 5-7, 2015.
“We work well together,” Karen says.
“My husband usually does the directing (and speaking) during the rehearsal. I quietly take notes and then discuss the play with him afterwards.
“Gordon had seen the play performed before and the theme of family really connected him.”
Since Over the Hill and Through the Woods is set in a small town, it should especially resonate with 100 Mile House residents.
Tanner Bartsch plays Nick. Margot Shaw plays Ada. Eric Storteboom plays Frank. Chris Watkins plays Nunzio and Shelley Carrera plays Emma. Kelsey Schuurman plays Caitlin O’Hare.
All tickets are $15 and are available at Didi’s Boutique and Donex Pharmacy & Department Store. If tickets are not sold out before opening night, they will be sold at the door.
For more information about the play, contact Kathy Wolczuk at 250-395-8836 or Donalda Speers at 250-706-0060.
