Looking for some great fall entertainment? Quartet, the fourth show in Many Hats Theatre Company’s seventh season, is currently on stage at the Cannery Stage in Penticton and is guaranteed to make you laugh.
Perhaps you’ve heard or watched the movie of the same name directed by Dustin Hoffman. Here’s your opportunity to see the play the movie was based upon.
Written by British Playwright Sir Ronald Harwood, Quartet takes place in a retirement home for musicians in Kent, England.
Harwood was curious about what opera singers and other musicians did when they retired.
According to Harwood, “Every year on Verdi’s birthday they gave a gala, and these old people would sing, sometimes appallingly, sometimes touchingly. It was a wonderful documentary, and it haunted me.”
The concept for Quartet was born.
Told with great humour and warmth, this is a story not to be missed about aging, and triumph over it.
As one of the characters in the play says, “We’re artists, aren’t we? We’re supposed to celebrate life. And that’s really what it’s about.”
Quartet is directed by Eric Hanston and produced by Shannon French. Jamie Eberle and Eleanor Walker star along with Many Hats newcomers Jean Padwick and Gordon Dawson.
Quartet runs on the Cannery Stage in the Cannery Trade Centre, 1475 Fairview Road, Penticton until Oct. 4 with performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
You can purchase tickets at the Wine Country Visitor’s Centre at Railway and Eckhardt or by phone 250-276-2170.
Closer to home, the Summerland Singers and Players are hosting an evening of theatre history including play readings presented by Singers and Players president Bob Read on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Arts Centre, 9908 Main St.
I know it is difficult to focus on Christmas activities in September, but you will want to mark Wednesday, Dec. 5 on your calendar as Singers and Players will be presenting the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, at Summerland United Church.
The Arts Palette is written by David Finnis, publicity chair and president of the Summerland Community Arts Council, P.O. Box 1217, 9908 Main St., Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z0.
