PREVIEW
Daddy’s Girl
Feb. 7 to 9, 14 to 16 and 21 to 23
Kinsmen Banquet Hall
47 Riel Dr.
Tickets: Adult $55, senior $50. Call 780-222-0102 or online at www.stalberttheatre.com
St. Albert Dinner Theatre is offering people a chance to chase away winter blues with a heaping plate of laughter and food.
As the first comedy of the year and second in the season, the local theatre company is showcasing Kansas playwright Gary Ray Stapp’s Daddy’s Girl.
It follows Benard (Cory Christianson), a cantankerous cook who owns a diner named for Maudie (Sarah Rowson), his late wife. Although Maudie died nearly 25 years ago in childbirth, she still likes to talk to Benard from her portrait hanging on the diner wall.
Maudie decides Benard needs to meet their daughter Elizabeth who was given up for adoption. She persuades Michaela (Christine Gold), an angel, to deliver Elizabeth to Benard.
But there’s a hitch. When Michaela tells Benard his daughter is in the diner, only two young women are in view and the cranky cook doesn’t like either of them.
These five characters are part of a 13-actor cast that debuts Daddy’s Girl Feb. 7 to 9, 14 to 16 and 21 to 23 at Kinsmen Banquet Hall.
“The play is about lost love. Sometimes we’re so busy looking for things we don’t even see what’s under our nose,” said director Lori Chenger.
With more than a dozen comedies credited to his name, Stapp strives to mesh offbeat characters and quirky storylines with a balance of one-liners and physical buffoonery.
Chenger goes on to mention the playwright was inspired to write the comedy after his wife suffered complications during childbirth.
“This play is quite poignant for our cast. A couple of members went through something like this and that’s why it is very dear to them,” Chenger said.
A diner is a classic meeting place for a cornucopia of characters. In addition to the two daughter candidates, Lizzie (Tai Yakubowich) and E.L. (Lauren Tamke), there is also Darlynn (Patti Hammerlindl), a neighbour who has been trying to snag Benard for years.
Patti Vincent pops up as Big Earl Ella, a true motorcycle mama, while standup comedian Tim Kubasek appears as Bob, a regular who takes everything literally. Joanne Poplett and Rita Jensen pair up as two little old ladies while Ashlyn Shaw is Betsy, the clumsy waitress.
Karson Magus is Walter, the PhD candidate so deeply infatuated with Betsy he stutters around her, and Rob Christopher is Alex, a suave dude who tries to teach Walter how to impress a girl.
To create an authentic restaurant vibe, Green Bean Catering will be offering a diner-styled buffet.
