Playgoers of Lethbridge begins celebrating it’s hundredth anniversary with an award winning comedy “ The Play That Goes Wrong,” Feb. 7-11 at the Yates Theatre.

 The long standing theatre company marked the inaugural meeting of the group, which happened Jan. 20 at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church , with an open house Jan. 20 at St. Augustines, but they are getting geared up for a busy 2023 with a production of Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis and Henry Shield’s backstage farce.

“It’s still running  in London and on Broadway,” said director and Playgoers of Lethbridge president  Elaine Jagielski.

 “ The Play that Goes Wrong,” is described as a “ hilarious hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes” as the cast and crew stage a production of  1920s murder mystery “Murder at Haversham Manor,” in which everything that can possibly go wrong, goes wrong and then some including a corpse that can’t play dead, an unconscious leading lady and a cast that trips on everything including their lines.

“It’s a play within a play. It’s farcical. It takes place on a set. It’s like backstage farces like ‘Noises Off!’ but you don’t really see what is happening backstage, though there are glimpses,” Jagielski continued, noting it has won several awards including Best New Comedy 2015 Laurence Olivier award. It also won a 2017 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.

“ It is a bit of a challenge. The set is like a ninth character. It’s an entity unto itself,” said Jagielski who is excited to welcome several new faces to Playgoers for this production.

“ We have some new faces. It’s first time on stage for some of them,” Jagielski said.

The cast features Playgoers of Lethbridge veteran Shelly David who

saw the play on Broadway and  pitched the idea to Playgoers. 

“ I saw it in 2017 on Broadway in New York City. I got a workout, I was laughing so hard in my seat. It was so funny, ” said Shelly David, who plays Annie the stage manager.

 “So I brought it to Playgoers,” she continued, adding she is enjoying working with the cast and crew.

Hatrix Theatre is stepping back in time this spring as they revisit Larry Shue‘s comedy  “the Foreigner” this spring.

Auditions for the show will take place Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at Casa or by contacting director Karolyn Harker at 403-327-2790 or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are unable to attend.

The show will take place May 10-13 at McNally Arts Centre just outside of Lethbridge.

 The Foreigner was first performed in January 1983.

“It takes place in the early ’80s in Georgia. British soldier Froggie arrives at a backwoods, rural fishing lodge with his friend Charlie. Froggie is a soldier who is here to teach demolitions. Charlie comes along because his wife left him. But he’s feeling to overwrought to talk to any of the guests,” described Harker.

New West Theatre has Blockbuster holiday plans and so should you.

 Laughter is the best present which New West Theatre is happy to give in their latest music/ comedy revue.

New West Theatre’s annual December production has always made the holidays a happier time.

For the most part, “Blockbuster” focusses on songs from popular movies and , as usual, lets the cast  shine individually and as a group. 

Dancing is the theme for the first part of the show. Katie Fellger shone in  a cast rendition of “ Dancing in the Streets.”

Jessica Ens shines early on  on an heartfelt interpretation of Lee Ann Womack’s “ I Hope You Dance.” That allowed Madisan Cowan to show off her best ballet moves.

 Ens also shine son “Greased lightning” from “Grease.” 

Devon Brayne stands out all over Blockbuster.

He brought back some Johnny Cash memories, performing a medley of Johnny Cash hits ‘Get Rhythm,’ ‘I Walk the Line’ and ‘Ring of Fire,’ from the Million Dollar Quartet which was his last appearance with New West.

He also shines in a variety of comedy bits including his Jack Handey style “Brayne musings,” where he reflects on a variety of his thoughts during Covid.

 He returns in the second part of the show as  sports, weather and traffic correspondent during Madisan Cowan and Jessica Ens’ news break, doing a Christopher Walken impression that sounds more like James Stewart than Christopher Walken, reporting from  both sides of the stage.

Another highlight is “ the cast version of Katrina and the Waves’ Walking on Sunshine.”

 It is technically a holiday show, but there isn’t much holiday themed content .