It's lights up at St. Albert Dinner Theatre with a fresh season of three comedies on the menu.
The non-profit community theatre’s list of shows has consistently weighted in with Canadian and American rib-ticklers. This year, the selection committee has elected to exclusively highlight Canadian playwrights.
“We’ve grown as a group and it shows in the selection of plays we have this year. When we started, we were more haphazard. Now we’re selecting our plays a year in advance. We’ve paid the rights and we’re committed,” said newly elected board president Donna Beeston.
A theatre aficionado who thrives in working behind the scenes, Beeston is also technical director, set designer and recently built a new website for the troupe.
In fact, the selection committee is looking at possibly producing a musical or a murder mystery comedy next season.
“We have more volunteers to carry the load. It shows in the quality of productions and how we handle ourselves.”
Turning to this season, the first production is Leanne Minogue’s Homecoming, running Nov. 7 to 23. Borrowing excerpts from her Saskatchewan agricultural heritage, Minogue writes about Jerry Wilson, a farmer whose failing health forces him to pass the family farm to his son. And that’s where the friction occurs.
“Some people don’t want to let go of the past. As an example, his son wants to plan a field on a computer. Jerry wants to plan it on paper.”
Co-directing Homecoming is Cory Christensen and Carolyn Zahovskis. The duo previously worked in tandem co-directing the 2017 Evening of One Acts.
“They work very well together. Cory comes from an actor’s position as opposed to a director’s position. He’s very much an actor’s director.”
The company’s second production kicks off in the new year with Norm Foster’s My Darling Judith playing from Jan. 30 to Feb. 15.
In this quirky production, David, a married man, has an affair and wants to marry Anna, his lover. The only thing standing in the way is his eccentric wife Judith.
“He gets a worker to seduce his wife and invites him to their cabin. And we get to see exactly how eccentric Judith is.”
Director Christina Estillore, who last stickhandled The Regifters, returns to helm the comic chaos. Expect more than a few saucy and salacious jokes.
The season closer is Roger Cosgrove’s 1, 2, 3, and Flush! on April 16 to May 2. And no, the production is not about plumbers.
Xera Schwetz directs a madcap comedy about a pair of bumbling criminals who plan a jewelry store heist only to have it fall apart under their noses. Just when things start running smoothly, the Waterton United Church Choir throws a spanner into the works.
“We’re definitely hoping to attract more people. You will never see something serious here. Life is too serious and these shows are a good way to laugh and relax.”
The hearty buffet dinner offers salads, marinated vegetables, cheeses, pasta, hot and cold meats and vegetables, as well as vegetarian options.
All productions take place at Kinsmen Banquet Hall, 47 Riel Dr. Tickets are $60 adults, $55 for seniors, students and groups of more than 10 people. Call 780-222-0102 or visit stalberttheatre.com.
Bon appétit!
