If you’re trying to decide on something to do to celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day, you need look no further than Pine Tree Players’ cast of characters.
The Valentine’s Day weekend just happens to be the opening weekend for PTP’S Caught in the Act offering of five one-act plays at Canmore Miners’ Union Hall. Caught in the Act runs Feb. 12-14, then again on Feb. 19-21.
The five one-act plays include Ladies at Lunch, by Carol Woods, directed by Nina St. James, Specter, by Don Nigro, directed by Elizabeth Green, The Other Martha, by Canmorite Melanie Desroches, directed by Gerry McAuley, Smitten, by Anna Stillaman and Mark Mathews, directed by Jane MacDonald and Controlling Interest, by Wayne S. Rawley, directed by Marianne Gagne Simard.
Producers include Louise Shore, Heath Hutchings and Ashley Sieben.
Tickets are $15 from Cafe Books or The Cellar Door in Canmore, or at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. with performances at 7:30 p.m.
In all, the five plays encompass a scope of theatre ranging from comedy to drama and tragedy and will feature 21 cast members.
“We had auditions in December and we’ve been rehearsing for two months now,” said Marianne Gagne Simard, who is acting in Ladies at Lunch and directing Controlling Interest as her first solo effort.
“We sat down together, found out who wanted to direct, had read throughs and chose the plays. Some people really wanted to direct certain plays.”
Plays range from 15 to 40 minutes. PTP is also planning to take part in the Alberta Drama Festival one act play competition, March 27-28 in High River.
“It’s gone really well,” said Gagne Simard. “I’ve got an amazing cast and it’s going really smoothly. It’s such and fun play and I’m so lucky to be doing it. I’m so confident it’s going to be a good play.”
Gagne Simard, who co-directed PTP’S A Streetcar Named Desire, said that play had a good response from the public, even though it was something of a step away from PTP’s usual comedy offerings.
While drama and tragedy are included in the five one-acts, Gagne Simard said the theatre group won’t stray away from the chuckles. “Canmore is a town that likes to laugh.”
Among the one-acts, Specter and Smitten have the smallest casts, with Liza Pye and Toomas Niema and Jane MacDonald and Jules Hobson, respectively. The Other Martha features Erin Walsh, Melissa Clemmens and Ron Deans, while Controlling Interest features Clemmens, Ashley Smith, Kim Lefort, Sara Mattsson, Jerome Desroches and Meema while Ladies at Lunch features Nina St. James, Gagne Simard, Janet Kundert, Leanne Post, Angela Taylor, Judy Brese, Mickey Szuszkiel, Dan Jess and Heidi Books.
