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Comedy showcased at SOPA

Comedy is always a big part of the Showcase of Performing Arts (SOPA), the annual fundraising fest of music, theatre and film at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.

Comedy is always a big part of the Showcase of Performing Arts (SOPA), the annual fundraising fest of music, theatre and film at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.

This year, Driftwood Players take up the challenge with two one-act comedies that are guaranteed funny and will run for four shows.

Indoor theatre in the summer is not usual. Theatres often remain dark while audiences choose outdoor activities, but the SOPA tradition is fostered on the Sunshine Coast and it continues into its 10th year. In part, it raises funds for the Heritage Playhouse.

Amateur actors will find some familiar scenarios playing out in Last Panto in Little Grimley, written by British playwright David Tristram and directed by Barb McColl. Mac Dodge, last seen as a cantankerous character in The Gin Game, plays a new cantankerous part, that of a small town, amateur theatre director who clashes with his budding thespians. Joyce (played by Theresa Huntly) has few talents other than her note-taking, but she tries hard, poor dear. Margaret (Marcia Forst) would like to raise the bar and rouse her inner Meryl Streep. Bernard (Randy Schmidt) doesn't want to suffer for his art -he'd rather eat his banana. What's a frustrated director to do? Write his own pantomime, of course, and this one with a bit of a twist - sex. Now he's just got to sell the others on it.

The second comedy, Brenton vs. Brenton (also by Tristram), makes light of an ad agency in which a separated husband and wife both want to be the top dog in Chicago's world of advertising. The play unfolds with soap opera flair and features a star-studded cast of locals including Todd Alain (last seen in Bed Full of Foreigners) and Ryan Peters (The Drawer Boy). Alison Maxwell and Marianne Tikkanen also perform along with Dodge and Forst. Both one-act plays are intended for adults.

Though Driftwood missed their annual spring production this year, many alumni have pitched in to make these four nights happen: Mardell Vestad is stage manager, Ingrid Bilton and Jean Hage are producers, costumes are by Lynda Carlson, stage decoration by Linda McTurk and technical by Sandi McGinnis.

Performances are all at 8 p.m. on July 14 and 15, and July 19 and 20.

Other SOPA events launched last night and will continue until July 23. On July 13, SOPA features multi-instrumentalist David Woodhead, one of Canada's top singer-songwriters and collaborator with influential violinist/composer Oliver Schroer, in the show Confabulation. His ensemble features stellar players from roots and jazz genres including the brilliant Jaron Freeman-Fox on violin. (Coast audiences last heard him in the music and dance production, Homage 2 Schroer.)

Also performing is Richard Underhill (saxophone), Doug Wilde (keyboards), Rich Greenspoon (drums). Woodhead plays the fretless bass and finger-style ukulele. Special guest, Gemini Award-winning actor Cedric Smith contributes spoken word.

On July 16, Anna Beaumont performs. A gifted vocalist and teacher, Beaumont sings from the heart. In the past few years, her path has led her to the mystical love, poetry and wisdom of Rumi and Hafiz, Sufi poets. Shaded with jazz, Celtic and Middle Eastern influences, she performs inspirational songs along with guests Anna Lumiere, Barry Taylor and Paul Steenhuis.

Three workshops are offered this year: a vocal connectionworkshop with Beaumont on July 17and two workshops with Celso Machado, jazz musician, both on July 22. To register for the workshops call 604-886-8998 or e-mail housemanager@heritageplayhouse.com.

Tickets for all SOPA events (at varying prices) can be found at Gaia's Fair Trade, Laedeli in Sunnycrest Mall, and Sechelt Visitor Centre. See www.heritageplayhouse.com for more.