Edmonton Theatre company Accidental Humour Company is having fun with fantasy in their production of Son of a Dwarf!, which opened in Lethbridge, Sept. 13 and continues Sept. 14 and Sept. 15 in the University Theatre.
They have spoofed zombie films, action adventure films and westerns. This year, they take a crack at fantasy films like Lord of the Rings.
Son of Dwarf, which was written by New West Theatre artistic director Jeremy Mason, blends live theatre with film.
The concept is along the same lines as their previous productions “Cowboy: A Cowboy Story, “For The Love of a Zombie and “Happy Whackin’ Jim McCrackin” which blend filmed footage with on stage action.
The 80 minute long production was a hit at the Edmonton Fringe Festival this year. It played Calgary last weekend and is in Medicine Hat the next weekend.
“We’re really excited to be back at the University of Lethbridge. It has never sounded or looked better,” said film director Brent Felzien.
He credited New West Theatre veteran and University of Lethbridge sound professor Kelly Roberts with making the local production look and sound so good in University Theatre. Other than two of them, the cast and crew are all University of Lethbridge graduates.
It stars Willie Banfield, who has performed in New West Theatre‘s Theatre for Young Adults productions as well as Murray Cullen, Cliff Kelley and Cari Russell. A lot more familiar faces appear in the film portion of the show including Felzien, who has a cameo in it. The stage part of the show is directed by Kimberlee Stadelmann.
“We put a lot of work into it during the year. Everything is timed very specifically. When we tour it is the fruits of our labour,” he said adding it stands out from most Fringe festival acts.
“ Most of them are short one act plays. This is a full movie,” he said.
The film portion includes animation, background and miscellaneous character, which the onstage cast must adapt to.
“It is really quite exciting to see. Spoiler, there is a giant who interacts with the cast,” he said.
The show begins at 8 p.m. each night in the University Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
