September 19, 2009 by maureen.ulrich.

. . . and then there’s Stanley – Jeanie’s father-in-law. He’s a ninety-five year old WW II vet – a former bomber pilot – who’s gradually losing his independence.

Tyler is Alma’s son. He still lives at home, but his relationship with his mother is parasitic. He has no ambition to go to work or to school.

Bert Smith is the new cook. His character – always upbeat and positive – counterbalances Alma’s negativity. There is something magical about him. Or is it just the fact that he makes great desserts?

Ray, who rides a Harley- Davidson, is part of the highway crew. He comes into the café most days to pick up a Denver sandwich to go – and hopefully Alma!

Dr. Delilah Forbes is a professor from the archaeology department at the University of Saskatchewan who’s interested in Mammoth’s ancient history.

Add to the mix an assortment of customers – and a cheerful delivery guy – played by three actresses.

Rehearsals are going well, and we are all looking forward to “bringing it” to our audience in less than two months.

Posted in On Community Theatre | 1 Comment »

September 9, 2009 by maureen.ulrich.

This month I am embarking on my first community theatre effort in four years. The cast is nearly in place, and rehearsals begin in earnest tonight.

We perform November 6th – 8^th.  I would like to do dinner theatre on Friday and Saturday night and then have our usual Sunday matinee with home-made pies.  

 I started writing this play about a year and a half ago, and it has undergone many changes. My daughters told me the first version was far too dark for an audience expecting light entertainment after consuming a heavy meal – and they were right, as usual. I have lightened this version up a great deal.

This comedy-drama explores a number of themes: friendship, forgiveness, change. Past and future are juxtaposed, as are inertia and movement, youth and age, strength and weakness.

Jeanie is the owner of Mitch’s Crossroads Café, an establishment which rides the rollercoaster of boom and bust on the prairies. Jeanie is tied to her past with Mitch, whose influence is still seen in the café’s interior design and menu. Mitch’s ghost inhabits the fridge, which is found at center stage, and he rattles the beer bottles inside whenever he’s ticked about something.

Alma is Jeanie’s cook, waitress, and friend. Alma has ghosts of her own – thanks to her battles with alcoholism and spousal abuse. Alma has emerged through all of this with her wry sense of humour intact, but she has lost her children along the way.

Zoe, at nineteen, still hasn’t found herself, but she comes looking. When Jeanie hires her, Zoe has already had numerous jobs and proven to be a disaster at all of them. She naively endures Alma’s harsh criticism, and emerges stronger for it.

Check in later to hear about more characters . . .

Posted in On Community Theatre, On Writing | 1 Comment »