Got Yer Ticket?

Why, you might ask, would anybody want to see a play that goes wrong?

I can think of a few reasons.

1. Do you like to laugh? In 2014, when The Play that Goes Wrong opened in London’s Duchess Theatre, critic Tim Walker of The Telegraph gave the play four out of five stars. He called it “a great-looking, brilliantly performed piece,” and stated, “I have seldom, if ever, heard louder or more sustained laughter in a theatre.”

2. Do you like to support local theatre? The Prairie Players are bringing this hilarious play to life on the stage of the William Glesby Centre, with director Avery Griffiths and a combination of new and veteran local actors: Randy Lilley, Alanna Downey, Cullen Yeates, Laurel Giesbrecht, Lisa Marie Tessier-Burch, Ethan Hoekstra, Justin Fry, and Sandy Blight. With a team like that, it’s sure to be a winner.

3: Could you use a night out? You can choose from four nights, Wednesday through Saturday, November 22-25 inclusive.

As you probably already guessed, The Play that Goes Wrong is a play-within-a-play, called “the funniest play Broadway has ever seen” by The Huffington Post.

It’s opening night of a classic murder mystery called The Murder at Haversham Manor. Before the curtain even rises, trouble befalls the production. Things quickly snowball from bad to disastrous. Although certainly not the first play of this nature—or even the first our local troupe has tackled—this one promises to keep you guessing, smiling, and telling your friends.

Then again, if you’re not sure you’d enjoy an abundance of disasters befalling the cast and crew, if you don’t find sticking doors, falling props, or collapsing floors funny, this play may not be for you. If you think forgotten lines, missing cues, and breaking character are all part and parcel of an ordinary community theatre production, you may assume this is simply one more. If mispronounced words don’t raise a chuckle, stay home and watch the news where they always get it correct. If an actor getting knocked unconscious and being replaced by a stagehand who refuses to yield the role back to the actor upon her recovery doesn’t tickle your funny bone, you may find yourself sitting stoically in your seat.

I do hope that wasn’t a spoiler.

I know one thing. Deliberately getting a play wrong takes even more determination, more rehearsal, and more comedic timing than getting it right. I’ll be there, cheering on the cast and crew who are working so diligently to get this play that goes wrong just right.

The Play That Goes Wrong was written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields of Mischief Theatre Company, and all three playwrights acted in its first production. It won Best New Comedy at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards.

Don’t miss it!

 

Steel Magnolias

Robert Harling

Born in 1951 in Dothan, Alabama, Robert Harling moved to New York City to become an actor, auditioning for bit parts in plays and commercials while working as a ticket seller for Broadway shows.

In 1985, Harling’s sister, Susan, died from diabetic complications after the birth of her son and the failure of a family member’s donated kidney. A writer friend encouraged Harling to write it all down to help him come to terms with his feelings. He did, as a short story for his nephew and to better understand his deceased sister. Within ten days, the short story evolved into a play called Steel Magnolias.

The play was produced off-Broadway in 1987 to great acclaim and subsequently translated into seventeen languages. In 1989, the film version of Steel Magnolias released, starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts. Harling himself played the role of the minister.

You’ve likely seen either the Oscar-winning movie or the stage version of this story. It explores many themes—the friendships of women, a mother’s love and sacrifice, and more.

The Prairie Players is staging Steel Magnolias this month at the William Glesby Centre. First-time director, Pam Stinson, is enjoying the challenge of bringing the Prairie Players’ first post-Covid production to the stage. Originally set for spring of 2020, the play is finally going ahead with a mostly new, all-female cast. They’re even taking the show on the road and performing in Onanole at the end of November.

Deanne McLeod, a big Dolly Parton fan, is thrilled to portray Truvy. She says, “We intend to give a performance like no other. Prepare to be thoroughly entertained!”

Meghan Carter, new to Prairie Players, portrays Annelle. She says, “I’m really glad I took the leap because I’m enjoying the whole process, from going to rehearsals, researching the setting of the play, and picking out costumes. What I appreciate most about my role is the change Annelle undergoes in that her self-confidence evolves as the plot progresses.”

Laurel Giesbrecht has been with Prairie Players since 2012, last seen in Mary Poppins. “The tight timeline has made this one intense, but Pam is so encouraging,” she says. “I play Clairee Belcher and I’m having an absolute blast with her big heart and sassy comments.”

Alanna Downey plays Shelby. Originally from Wawanesa, this is Alanna’s first production with the Prairie Players since her move here five years ago.

After the last few years of coping with the impact of Covid, Jennifer Lomonico says she felt getting involved with Prairie Players would help with re-establishing connection with others and doing something creative and inspiring. “It’s been a wonderful experience. We have a lot of laughs and a great group of people. I play M’Lynn, who has a mix of funny and serious moments. I was drawn to the role because of M’Lynn’s strength, humor, and emotional vulnerability.”

Long-time Players member Danica Turcotte will portray Ouiser (Weezer), often the most loved character of all.

Stinson says, “I especially wanted to direct Steel Magnolias, the first play I ever saw of Prairie Players back in the nineties at Southport. The experience has been very positive. I have a vision and the cast is making it come true! It’s truly great to be back at the theater after three years. I believe in being active in the community. This is one way for me to participate.”

The show runs November 9, 10, 11, and 12 at the William Glesby Centre. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Curtain rises at 7:30. Tickets cost $18 and can be purchased in two places: the Prairie Fusion Gift Shop (Mon – Thurs, 10:00-3:00) or MCC Furniture Plus (Tues - Sat, 9:30-4:00). Note: tickets are not available at the Glesby box office. If not sold out, tickets can also be purchased at the door before each show.

I designed the poster as my contribution to the production. ;)

 

Give My Regrets to Broadway

A few months ago, someone asked a question for which I had no answer. “What do you do to play?”

Excuse me. Play?

I mean, I have hobbies. I like reading. Watching movies. Going for walks when the weather’s nice. I enjoy writing, of course. You already know about my Wordle habit. But I wouldn’t call any of those things “play.” I don’t do sports. Most board games bore me. I don’t see my grandkids often enough to be pulled into their play much.

“Oh my gosh,” I thought. “I have no idea how to play!”

Then I received an email. The Glesby Centre was hosting a “Broadway Bootcamp” for youth over spring break, led by StudioWorks Academy in Winnipeg. They generously offered an evening session to Prairie Players members, free of charge. Was I interested? Sure, why not? Sign me up. Maybe I’ll get a blog post out of it.

As almost always happens, I began dragging my heels as the evening approached. Why did I say I’d attend this thing? Freezing rain was falling. My couch was calling. Now I had to go because I’d coerced my friend Vicki into joining me and I couldn’t risk ticking her off by not showing up.

In the first thirty seconds, though, I felt glad I’d gone. If nothing else, I got to see some faces I had not seen—or seen only in passing—for over two years. We gathered on the stage in our socks to protect the floor from slush and mud. I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I last felt that painted platform under my feet. Twenty minutes in, I realized something else.

I was playing!

Our two young leaders taught us some fun warm-up games that involved concentration, coordination, and tons of laughter. Silliness reigned as they forced us to make split-second, life-altering decisions, such as whether to “whiz” or “whoosh” one another, whether to hop over an imaginary bowling ball or yell “MINE!” and pick it up. We practiced rhythm and attentiveness in a game called “Big Booty.” We called each other out while chanting “IN. THE. SOUP.”

Well, I guess you had to be there.

We participated in some relaxation and exploration exercises. We moved our bodies. Breathed deeply. Made weird noises. Practiced our improv skills. Activities that would feel like torture to others, the way playing basketball or sitting through a football game feels to me.

Most of all, we laughed and enjoyed each other. I really don’t know how tough the last two years have been on these friends—what hardships or losses they’ve faced, what personal struggles they may have overcome. But I do know my own, and it’s fair to assume our challenges are universal. Hearing their laughter and seeing their smiles, even though some remained behind masks, brought healing in and of itself.

I had forgotten how much fun theater games can be. Turns out I do know how to play, and children are not the only ones who need to.

At my age, it’s becoming increasingly unrealistic to think I will ever get to SEE a Broadway play, let alone perform in one. I can live with that. I just hope I’m never too old to gather with like-minded people who truly enjoy this avenue of expression, personal growth, and fun.

How do YOU play?

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” (Proverbs 17:22 The Message)

 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

As a little girl, I received a 45-rpm vinyl recording from the soundtrack of the new Walt Disney movie, Mary Poppins. On one side were the voices of Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke singing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! which I loved. On the flip side was Feed the Birds, which I did not.

I would not see the movie until about fifteen years later, but I could still sing along with the theme song. I think I might remember all the lyrics to this day, along with Van Dyke’s famously horrible Cockney accent.

You might think the 1964 movie was the “original” version of Mary Poppins. Not so! The story’s author, P. L. Travers (the P.L. stands for Pamela Lyndon – her birth name was Helen Lyndon Goff), wrote Mary Poppins as a short story first. She based it on tales concocted to amuse her sisters in their youth. It released as a novel in 1934 and its success prompted Walt Disney (his own daughters loved the book and its sequels) to approach Travers about film rights. It took him twenty years to convince her, but in 1964, the version you and I know best came to the big screen.

Travers was not impressed, nor did she ever warm to Walt Disney. Following the premiere, she reportedly told Disney the animated portions simply had to go. His reply? “That ship has sailed.”

Years later, Travers told a reporter, “I’ve seen it once or twice, and I’ve learned to live with it. It’s glamorous and it’s a good film on its own level, but I don't think it is very like my books.” Of course, the film also made her a lot of money. Travers died at the age of ninety-six in 1996.

In 2004, the story was turned into a stage musical which stays truer to the books and included many of the songs from Disney’s movie. Downton Abbey fans will recognize the name of one of its writers, Juliann Fellowes.

A 2013 movie called Saving Mr. Banks depicts the making of the film and the quarrels between Disney and Travers (played by Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson). Last year, Disney released the movie Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt in the title role.

Why am I telling you all this? Because our own Prairie Players are bringing Mary Poppins to the Glesby Centre stage next month and you do not want to miss it! 2019 is the group’s fiftieth anniversary, and this tremendously ambitious production celebrates that milestone. Also! If you attend Wednesday or Thursday and were born in 1969, you’ll get to put your name in a draw for a fabulous door prize!

Ryle Ann Steeden plays the title role. (If that name sounds familiar, it should. Steeden won double awards at the 2018 Manitoba Country Voice competition, taking both People’s Choice and Judges’ awards). The cast also includes Jonah Hordeski, Avery Griffith, Laurel Giesbrecht, Rhea Goertzen, Dale Finney, Brendan Giesbrecht, Paige Griffin, Iris Jones, Jocelyn Lequier-Jobin, Jon Jonasson, Rachael Clarke, Mike Hoekstra, Vernon Vickruck, Terry Tully, Andrew Giesbrecht, Gord Holm , Rosa Albanese Rawlings, Judi Hoekstra, Kim Rauscher, Sharon Vickruck, Haley L’Heureux, Olivia Sokolosky, Margaret Bernhardt-Lowdon, and Brooklyn Delorme. Nearly all of these are also in the ensemble, in addition to Pat MacRae, Cassie Britton, and director Stephanie Kauffman. Timothy Holm is the pianist and Rita Carignan the producer.

Jonah Hordeski & Ryle Ann Steeden

 

A cast this large means lots of fans to fill the seats, so get your ticket soon. Show dates are as follows.

For the play only: November 20 and 21, 2019. Doors open at 7 with show at 7:30. Tickets cost $15.00 each, available at the Glesby Centre Box Office, 204-239-4848, or online.

Dinner Theatre – November 22 and 23, 2019. Doors open at 5:30 with Cocktails at 6, dinner at 6:30 and show at 7:30. Tickets are $50, available at the Box Office.

 

Since this is the stage version, some of the characters and some of the songs might seem new to you if you’re only familiar with the movie. But don’t worry. If you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound precocious.