This time around, the 100 Mile House Performing Arts Society is all about the drama.
A performance of Love Letters, an emotional two-person play, is set for Oct. 16-18 at Martin Exeter Hall.
The play, by American writer A. R. Gurney, revolves around two characters – played by local actors Renee LaRochelle and Chris Adams – sitting side-by-side at a table, going over notes, letters and cards written throughout their lives.
The dramatic production is a departure from the comedic route the local theatre group took last year.
Director Marie Hooper says the play is a good one for a quick fall production because it requires only a cast of two and not a lot of rehearsal time – because the actors are reading from letters on stage.
Adams, who played an overweight jockey, and LaRochelle, who played a neurotic psychiatrist, were hilarious in the group’s last production, Office Hours, a comedy by Canadian playwright Norm Foster.
They should be great in their dramatic roles, too, Hooper says.
“We had the first read through the other day and it was amazing. There’s really no stage movement. They sit at a desk and read.
“There’s no musical number, there’s no dances. So, you have to have really good actors who can move you with just their voices. I believe those two are very capable of doing that.”
Love Letters is the first of three productions the Performing Arts Society is hoping to do in the coming months. Another comedy and murder mystery are slated in the future.
“It’s nice the society is branching out into all aspects of theatrical productions,” Hooper says.
“I’m hoping very much there’s a core group of people in 100 Mile who enjoy going to the theatre for theatre’s sake, just to be entertained. That they’ll come out and at least give Love Letters a try and see if they enjoy it.”
Performances are set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 16, 7 p.m. on Oct. 17, and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 18.
Tickets are $15 and are available at Didi’s Boutique and Donex Pharmacy on Birch Avenue.
Visit the 100 Mile House Performing Arts Society on Facebook for more information.
Auditions for the Art of Murder, written by Joe DiPietro, which is slated for a February production, are at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, 106 Blackstock Rd. from 7 p.m. to 9 on Oct. 6-7.
For more information, contact Donalda Speers at 250-706-0060.
