With opening night a day away for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, director Marie Hooper says she thinks her 100 Mile Performing Arts Society may have shot itself in the foot by advertising their production as adult-themed content with a parent advisory.
Tickets for the eight-performance show aren't selling as well as expected and now she's afraid the advisory was a little overzealous and may be turning people away.
"We want to let people know that it's not anything bad at all. There's no bad language and I think we may have over-projected.
"It won't work for two- or three-year-olds who don't have the attention span, but seven- and eight-year-olds are getting it quite fine."
She adds the costumes are fun and the houses in the set look like something out of Disney's Toontown.
"It's a cartoon come to life - a Roman romp with everything over the top. It reminds me of Monty Python or Fawlty Towers."
Even after months of rehearsals, Hooper says the play still makes her laugh.
"The actors are doing a great job with their roles and really having a good time with them. They're cracking each other up on the stage, and that's OK."
Hooper says Forum rates among the best productions she has been involved with in 100 Mile House and adds she chose the play very carefully.
"People are absolutely going to enjoy it. You will actually laugh out loud. There's a surprise that will really get people laughing."
She says past productions over the years have seen sellouts for every show and she doesn't see any reason why Forum should be any different.
"I've taken liberties of pushing the envelope on Funny and I'm really hoping people will come out and give it a chance."
The show runs at 7 p.m. from Feb. 23-25 and March 1-3 at Martin Exeter Hall, and Saturday matinee performances will be held on Feb. 25 and March 3 at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and available at Didi's, Donex and Curves.
