CANMORE – Sometimes a tiny slice of comforting, feel-good entertainment, whether it be a movie, music or play, can go a long way in dealing with fatigue and stress, especially now more than ever amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Pine Tree Players will present Loose Knit by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Lauren Hawkeye at the Canmore Miners' Union Hall from April 20 to 30.
The play has a strong message of feminism and respecting people's differences.
"I like to do shows with feminist themes and lots of female roles. It's a theatre during COVID that had a lot of restrictions on it, so I think theatre – the whole point – is sharing a moment in time and space between the actors and the audience. I want them to be taken on a journey of exploring different relationships between different kinds of people," said Hawkeye, who is also performing in the role of Paula.
The characters of Gina (Courtney Schreiner), Lily (Pam Milthorp), Liz (Michelle Monk), Margie (Chezlene Kocian) and Paula all form a knitting club to solidify their friendship, support one another and meet regularly. As the sweaters pile up, the lives of the five women fall apart.
Liz is having an affair with her sister's husband, Gina lost her job, Paula is having an identity crisis, and Margie just wants a date.
Into their lives steps Miles (Brian McDonald), a cool businessman who made his first million before he was 30, and is now looking for a wife.
On a series of hilarious blind dates in a sushi restaurant, Miles and the women go head-to-head in an attempt to define what it is men and women want.
Loose Knit will live up to people's expectations, showing how a female-centric theatrical show can still bring diversity. Hawkeye said the power of the play is the experienced cast members.
Schreiner said her role as Gina exhibits some of the main character's knitting.
"The knitting for Gina is life right now. It's replacing her value and worth in the world," Schreiner said, "I hope the audience gets some laughs. They kind of get some insights on how women even wrote about women back in the 90s when this play was written, and how much growth has come from men, and I hope they realize that"
The play Loose Knit will offer relatable characters and timely themes. Pine Tree Players hope the audience will cherish their lives more and learn to thrive following the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In the play, and in this setting, all I think all the women are at various crisis moments through and we all get together to bond and error, our pain and suffering," said Kocian.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at pinetreeplayers.com.
