Drama Beat

Cowboy: A Cowboy Story a hilarious spoof of classic westerns

Friday, 16 September 2011 12:00 Richard Amery

If you want to relive the good old days of leather skinned cowboys, steely eyed gunfighters and grizzled prospectors, and raise a herd of laughs along the way, then check out Cowboy: A Cowboy Story this weekend.

It is a special presentation of Cowboy: A Cowboy Story plays the Sterndale-Bennett Theatre, Sept. 17. Photo submitted Accidental Humour Co’s Edmonton Fringe Festival hit, which is plays the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, one night only, Sept. 17.

The play stars New West Theatre General manager Jeremy Mason as well as William Banfield, Cliff Kelly, Frazer Andrews and Neil James.

The Brent Felzien penned play is a spoof of classic western movies which comes from the makers of popular Fringe hits “For the Love of A Zombie,’ and ‘Happy Whackin’ Jim McCrackin.’

The 70 minute long multi-media feature shot around Southern Alberta, one-act comedy is described as “Part spoof, part homage, all entertaining.”

It features a “unique blend of high octane video and hilarious live on-stage antics.”
If you go, you can expect gunfights, train robberies, horse riding and cold vengeance blended with a lot of humour.
Ticket cost $15. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

— By Richard Amery, L.A.Beat Editor

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Drama Nutz auditioning for a dozen funny men and women

Monday, 12 September 2011 15:51 Richard Amery

So you think you’re funny? If you do, come on out and show it. Local improv group Drama Nutz are looking for a dozen witty people to take part in several shows this season.

Drama Nutz David Gabert and Jon MacBurnie rehearse Siege at Fort Whoop-Up. Photo by Richard Amery
“Every year we do a number of different shows. We have a couple murder mysteries and others are improv shows like “Whose Line is It Anyway,” said Drama Nutz founder David Gabert.

So far the shows scheduled are all private functions, however Gabert is planning on more.

Most of their shows scheduled for this year are private functions, though they hope to produce a murder mystery of their own this year. Drama Nutz often performs at the Galt Museum and at Fort Whoop-Up.

Drama Nutz is holding auditions, Sept. 19 at Fort Whoop-Up at 8 p.m..

Actors aged 14 and up are welcome to come out and have some fun playing with seasoned Drama Nutz veterans and enthusiastic newcomers.

“It is very improv based. So we’re looking for 12 actors who are witty and spontaneous and willing to take charge as well as listen to the other actors,” he said.

Playgoers of Lethbridge holding auditions for “Send Me No Flowers”

Sunday, 04 September 2011 10:46 Richard Amery

If you want to be on stage, here’s your chance. Elaine Jagielski will be directing Send Me No Flowers. Photo By Richard Amery

Long-standing Lethbridge theatre company Playgoers of Lethbridge are holding open auditions this week for their October production of the Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore’s three act comedy “Send Me No Flowers.”

Send Me No Flowers is best known as the hit 1964 Norman Jewison directed comedy starring Rock Hudson, Tony Randall and Doris Day.

The play had a short run on Broadway in 1960. The title song was composed by Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

Elaine Jagielski, who directed last year’s dinner theatre “One for The Pot,” will be directing this farce about hopeless hypochondriac George who experiences chest pains and goes to the doctor when he overhears the diagnoses of a terminally ill patient and assumes they are talking about him.

Assuming he’s the one dying, he asks his friend Arnold to help find his wife, Judy, a new husband so he knows she won’t be alone.

So he finds her old college boyfriend Burt, a Texas oil baron. Comedy ensues as Judy assumes her husband’s actions are an attempt to cover up an affair and throws him out of the house.

Empress Theatre presents gangs of Vaudeville

Wednesday, 17 August 2011 15:22 Richard Amery

Join Don Biscotti and the Empress Players in an offer you can’t refuse, it’s Gangs of Vaudeville - a one night only smorgasbord of southern Alberta talent.

Local singer songwriter Tristan Skettering will be among the performers which features plenty of Southern Alberta talent including piano players, bagpipers, belly dancers and poets.

Showing Aug. 19 at 8 p.m, make the quick trip to Fort Macleod and enjoy one of the most popular forms of entertainment seen on stage during the 1880s through to the 1930s, but with a modern twist.

Tickets $15 for adults, $10 for everyone else, rated E for everyone!

Visit www.empresstheatre.ab.ca or call the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod at 1-800-540-9229 for tickets and further details. Make the Empress Theatre part of your summer entertainment.

— Submitted to L.A. Beat.

The kids want to rock with New West

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 16:59 Richard Amery

Summer time means New West Theatre is “Born To Rock,” especially this summer. the cast of Born to Rock gets Footloose. Photo By Richard Amery

They are already getting great audiences for their current production, which runs until Aug. 27 at the Yates theatre. It could be renamed the Hunt and Haubs show as the multi-talented Erica Hunt and Jocelyn Haubs seem to be in everything from innumerable comedy sketches to stunning solo performances of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” and Guns N’ Roses‘ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” respectively.

That isn’t to say the other cast members don’t have their inspirational moments.
I really enjoyed comedian Andrew Legg’s medley of CCR hits, as well as one of several political moments in this show when Devon Brayne sang a song called “If I were Prime Minister,” backed by Grahame Renyk mugging in the background as he provided back-up vocals.

The always affable host Renyk didn’t get to take centre stage as much as he usually does in New West productions, but he earned his pay with a variety of excellent character comedy throughout.

The comedy really appealed to one loudly hooting member of the audience who really got into Hunt and Haubs riffing on a a couple sets of “bad” husband jokes.