The University of Lethbridge is excited to host “A Dinner Party” in the University Theatre, Feb. 8-12.
New West Theatre’s Kelley Reay directs this new production by Calgary playwright Christopher Duthie.
“This is only the third time it has been performed,” said Reay.
Faculty advisor and Drama Department faculty and production designer, David Smith brought the play to the fore.
“I was the designer for the premiere of this play three years ago with Bad Knaps Theatre in Calgary and Christopher Duthie and I were graduate students together as well. This is a great play for our students to work on,” said Smith in a press release.
“As theatre practitioners we are storytellers, and the set, although uncomplicated, provides important context where the action unfolds.”
“ I love this play , because it starts out as a dinner party but it takes off in an unexpected direction. There really is something in the that will appeal to everyone,” Reay enthused, noting “ Dinner Party” is about four friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time.
“It really subverts your expectations,” he said.
“It‘s what happens when four old friends come together,” he said.
The cast includes Kacie Hall as Boo, Danielle Baker as Darling, Carter Debusschere and Claire Smith as Sweetie, the newest addition to this group of friends.
“She ’s really a lot of fun. She’s 10 years younger than the rest of them. She brings a lot of chaos,” Smith enthused.
“She’s kind of a granola, yoga girl. She’s a hippie but also very down to earth,” she said, adding she has enjoyed working with the cast since rehearsals began in the first week of January.
“ We’ve become really close and our characters are all extensions of our personalities,” she continued, adding the play has adult content including some profanity.
