Drama Beat

University of Lethbridge glad to be back on stage with Design for Living

Saturday, 13 November 2021 10:38 Richard Amery

The University of Lethbridge is excited to be back, live on stage with their production of Noel Coward’s 1932 comedy “Design For Living,” running Nov. 16 - 20 at 7:30 pm in the University Theatre.

Melanie Friesen, Andrew Burniston and Carter Debusschere rehearse for Design For Living. Photo by Richard Amery

“Design For Living” is about three young and up and coming artists , Gilda (Melanie Friesen), Otto (Andrew Burniston ) and Leo ( Carter Debusschere) coming of age who find themselves in the middle of a love triangle.

“ It’s a play (director) Jay Whitehead and I wanted to put on stage a couple of years ago,” but we couldn’t because of Covid,” said set and costume designer and faculty member Julia Wasilewski.

“It’s a comedy of manners. Noel Coward really was ahead of his time,” she said, adding the play explores love and gender.

She said though Coward penned the play almost 100 years ago and would have got into trouble over the subject matter if not handled delicately, the theme of love is universal regardless of gender.

“ Love is love is love,” she said, adding that is what the main trio discover as they resolve their issues.

The 11 cast members play 12 characters living at the end of the roaring ’20s and beginning of the Great Depression, 1928-1932 in Paris, London and New York City.

They have been rehearsing since the beginning of October.

“A lot happened during those years,” Wasilewski said noting she and her crew had to create three different apartment sets spanning several different years, and supply numerous props, all of which had to be sanitized and made Covid safe.

Assistant director Kacie Hall, who was involved with last year’s Zoom theatre presentation during which the cast rehearsed and performed from their individual residences, is excited to be back on stage.

“We‘re very excited to be back in this space in front of people,” Hall said, emphasizing the issues explored in the play are still relevant today.

“Surprisingly it is. It explores sexuality and different relationships,” she said.

Actor Andrew Burniston, who plays Otto, is excited to be in front of an audience.

“ It feels so good to be in the same space again. With Zoom, I don’t know what it was, we may have created a whole new medium,” he said, adding he is excited to play a character living in the ’20s and 30s.

He is excited about opening night.

Makiisma to be part of local filming of Roku’s RiseUP series about touring musicians

Friday, 22 October 2021 00:00 Richard Amery

Megan Brown and her band Makiisma are excited to “Rise Up” on streaming service Roku.

The local doom folk band are part of a new series called RiseUP exploring the effects of Covid on touring musicians, which will be filming at the Slice, Tuesday, Oct. 26.

Makiisma play a special filming of RiseUP at the Slice on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Photo by Richard Amery

“ The series follows five different bands as they tour across Canada and the U.S.,” Brown said, adding she was excited when Slice owner Derek Hoyle approached her about being part of the Lethbridge shoot, which features Calgary singer songwriter Kyley Styles supporting his album ‘Creating my Colours,’ Edmonton rap rock band Revolution Engine, Mexican hard rock band the B34st, Vancouver musician Tim Steinruck and Edmonton heavy rock band Sun of the Moon.

This episode begins with the Lethbridge date starting the Albertan leg of the tour in Lethbridge, Oct. 26, followed by Red Deer, Canmore, Calgary and ending in Edmonton.

Brown noted Makiisma will only be part of the Lethbridge show and expects the episode to air in the Spring.

Makiisma includes Megan Brown on vocals, guitar and violin, drummer Keenan Pezderic, keyboardist TJ Waltho and bassist Kieran Swinney. His brother James Swinney will play extra guitar when Brown is playing violin.

“ We’ll be playing a half hour, the other bands will be playing about 20 minutes. It will be a great night of music, ” she said.

“ I was so excited when Derek asked me to be part of it. I’ve never been on a reality TV show ,” she enthused.

New West Theatre cautiously announces first part of new season

Saturday, 02 October 2021 15:48 Richard Amery

New West Theatre is proceeding with caution due to Covid, so they have only announced two new shows in their upcoming season.

“We’re still proceeding with caution,” said New West theatre artistic director Kelly Reay, who is excited to be back in the Yates Theatre.

New West Theatre has announced some of their new season. Photo by Richard Amery

He noted the Yates and Sterndale Bennett Theatre are both part of the vaccine exemption program, so patrons will have to show proof of vaccination, medical proof of exemption or a negative Covid test and wear masks while enjoying the show.

“ But we’re still optimistic. So we’re only releasing the schedule a piece at a time,” Reay continued, noting with so much negativity in the air, it is all the more important to spread joy and positivity.

The first big show will be “Ode To Joy,” another of New West Theatre’s much enjoyed comedy-music revues. It will run in the Yates Theatre from Dec. 15-31.

“It will star the usual cast of characters performing new and old favourites,” he continued.

“Given the way the world is today, we really feel like our duty is to bring joy and laughter to people. Live performances bring people together. We want to provide a little bit of levity,” he said, adding they will announce more shows as things hopefully improve.

University of Lethbridge ready to bring the laughs with Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors

Wednesday, 29 September 2021 12:29 Richard Amery

The past couple years have been scary and depressing, so the time is right for some laughter. Quinn Larder is part of Dracula: A Comedy of terrors, oct. 5-9 in University Theatre. Photo by Richard Amery

The University of Lethbridge will provide those much need laughs as they get into the Halloween spirit a few weeks early with Dracula : A Comedy of Terrors, running in University Theatre, Oct. 5-9.

The one act play, penned by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen is a comedic take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

“It’s very meta,” described Quinn Larder, who plays Dracula and actor number 4.

The show is set up like a radio play featuring five actors, two folio/ sound effects performers and pianist/ composer Kathy Zaborsky, who also double as part of the cast. All of the actors play multiple characters.

“ The source material is Dracula, but it’s very funny. The actors know it’s a show,” Larder continued.

“We’re a theatre troupe hoping to put on a production of Dracula,” added Lilliana Gaggero, who plays Lucy, Driver and one of the actors.

“It’s been exciting watching everything come together with the music, folio and actors. There’s lots of physical comedy,” she continued, adding she has enjoyed playing three different characters in the play.

“They all have different characteristics, physical attributes and accents to tell them apart. The driver is all hunched over from driving all day. It’s been a really fun exercise” she said.

Larder is excited to be part of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.

“We did Dracula in high school. But it was more serious and I was too shy to audition. So I’m excited to be on stage in a comedy,” laughed Larder, a fourth year student who has been in several University of Lethbridge productions.

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