"A Night of Comedy" promises laughter, fun and entertainment this spring as Between Shifts Theatre's annual one-act plays get underway.
Directors are keen to continue with the acting enthusiasm generated by the late A Tribute to The Princess Bride productions and involve as many new faces as possible.
Stamped with "Copyright Approved," the collection of five separate plays (and potentially six) is hoping to draw new actors and actresses out of the woodwork and onto the stage.
"We're looking for anybody and everybody who wants to give acting a try to come out and join us," said Lisa Schaer, director of The Boor by Anton Chekhov.
The Boor is a story about a widow, Popova, who is still deep in mourning seven months after her husband's death. She stays alone at her country house, refusing to go out or to see anybody. Suddenly, Smirnov arrives and rudely insists on seeing her.
Popova's late husband owed him 1,200 rubles and he demands the debt be paid at once because his creditors are after him.
Popova delays. Smirnov insists, makes light of Popova's mourning, and refuses to leave. They angrily vie with one another: "Men are rude and inconstant!" "Women are fickle and manipulative!" (It turns out that Popova's husband was actually a liar and cheat, but she remains true to his memory just to show him how faithful a woman can be.)
Smirnov challenges her to a duel for insulting him and Popova brings out her husband's pistols. At this point Smirnov realizes that he has fallen in love with this tough, spunky woman. Popova vacillates for a moment, but they end up in each other's arms.
That's only one of the plays and Schaer said that "as a director I'm excited to see some new faces as part of the production."
One-act plays are much shorter in duration than the average production - usually 15 to 25 minutes long - and require less time commitment than a full-length production.
"Anyone who wants to get their feet wet should start here," said Between Shifts marketing director Janice MacLean. "They're quick and funny with limited set changes."
Aside from The Boor, "A Night of Comedy" will include another Chekhov play, The Proposal. Other one-act plays include Time Flies by David Ives, Harpie by Robert W. Service, Flambe by Olga Humphrey and potentially The Loneliest Vampire in New York by Alan Forsythe.
Auditions will take place April 10 at 1 p.m. and April 12 at 7 p.m. at the Sea to Sky Hotel.
Performances will be June 9, 10, 11 and 16, 17 and 18. Tickets are available at Republic Bicycles, The Bookshelf and Billie's Bouquet. The venue has yet to be determined.
