Theatre Outre is excited to explore the concept of shame in their Nov. 4-8 production of Sky Gilbert’s The Birth of Casper G Schmidt at Club Didi.
“ On the surface it is the story of three friends — a straight couple and their gay neighbour and their relationship together as he deals with mental illness,” summarized director Jay Whitehead adding the comedy digs quite a bit deeper than that.
“It is about how they interact with each other in the world, though it is written as a comedy,” he continued.
“ It has a lot of deeper themes,” he added, noting one of the reasons he wanted to do this production is because he wanted to work with actors Jocelyn Haub, Devon Brayne and Brett Dahl.
“ I’m a big fan of Sky Gilbert’s writing and really wanted the opportunity to work with these three performers on a script together,” he said adding the 15-year -old play seemed like a perfect fit for everyone.
Whitehead has worked with Haub and Brayne is several productions including several with New West Theatre and has worked with Brett Dahl in Theatre Outre productions.
Dahl, who was part of A Thought in Three Parts with Theatre Outre in February, is pleased to perform Howard, the gay best friend in this production.
“ He’s a very imperfect character. But there is something cute abut him. He’s definitely not conservative,” he described adding the play explores important topics prevalent in modern culture.
“ Shame is quite omnipresent in our life,” he continued adding he hopes audiences will leave the play thinking about shame and the part it plays in their lives and why it plays that role.
He is glad to be back.
“ Now I’ve returned, it feels like a second home to me,” said the Calgary based actor who trained at the University of Alberta.
Newlyweds Devon Brayne and Jocelyn Haub are excited about playing the couple John and Mandy.
“ We’ve always wanted to work with Theatre Outre,” Brayne said.
“And we wanted to work with Brett,” Haub added.
“It’s a very human story. The script is wonderful. It finds the humour in what could have become a very serious story,” Haub added.
Brayne is enjoying how it examines the concept of shame.
“I hope people will come away questioning what shame is and how it is part of their lives,” he said.
“I feel the nature of the play represents the more open society of today,” Haub said.
The play runs Nov. 4-8 at 8 p.m. each night at Club Didi. Tickets are $20.
