A new theatre company gives up and coming actors more chances to “Experience” theatre without leaving Lethbridge. Their first play “I Hear Abel Singin’ in the Fields,” penned by local playwright Jess Serrat, runs at the casa community room April 21 at 2:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m., April 22, 24 and 25.
Jesse Thibert, who played Hamlet with The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society’s production of Shakespeare’s renown tragedy Hamlet a couple of years ago and who directed Taming of the Shrew last summer, brings his new theatre company Experience Theatre to life with Jess Syratt’s original play “ I Hear Abel Singin’ in the fields.”
“I wanted to have more opportunities for actors especially those graduating from the University of Lethbridge.,” Said Thibert on founding Experience Theatre company.
“Lethbridge is a growing city. We have a great theatre community of students and professional actors, so I felt they should have more opportunities to perform here without having to move to another city,” Thibert said.
Experience Theatre has been rehearsing for their first production since January. They will be staging two more this year.
“We hope to double that next year,” Thibert said.
He has wanted to do Syratt’s play for a couple of years.
“It’s about two brothers. One wants to stay on the family farm and the other wants to move to the city,” said Thibert, who plays the brother who wants to stay on the farm.
The play features Thibert as James, Logan Hockley as his brother Noah and Aiden Boon as Eden.
“ James is a rough and tumble guy who wants to stay on the farm,” Thibert said of his character.
“ There’s treachery and there‘s betrayal. It’s definitely not a comedy,” he said of the play, which he has been wanting to produce since he read it several years ago when hie was in university.
All of the cast, crew and director are University of Lethbridge students or recent alumni.
Playwright Jess Syratt noted she was inspired to write “I hear Abel Singin’ in the Field,” after reading Gwen Pharis Ringwood ’s “ Still Stands the House
“ I was inspired by and I Saw Abel Singin In the Field grew out of it,” Syratt said.
“My mother is from a farm in England. I was fascinated by the relationship farmers have with the land . it turned in to a play about sibling relationships, regrets and the things that are important to us,” she said.
“ It’s very surreal, but it has an deceptively hopeful ending,” said Syratt who is excited to work with friends on the show.
Director Carson Rafuse is excited to be part of the show and the theatre company.
“ Jesse has been wanting todo tis play for a few years. The goal of the company is to support local actors. So I’m super pumped to part of it.
“ It’s been exciting to dive into this play,” he said.
“ I’m hoping people who see it will really connect to it,” he said.
“It’s a brand new play that has never been fully developed before,” he said.
The next play Experience Theatre will be staging is Mason Arsenault’s “ Mama Di’s Baby Food presents the legend of 9-11,” Sept. 11-15.
Noelle Smith’s absurd comedy “Pants,” about a homophobic pair of pants will be the last show of this season.
“I Hear Abel Singin’ in the Fields,” penned by local playwright Jess Serrat, runs at the casa community room April 21 at 2:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m., April 22, 24 and 25. Tickets for the show are $15 through the company’s website https://xptheatre.ca/shows/
— By Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor
