Walter Price has a thing about park benches. Every time he sits on his favourite bench to eat his sandwich, something happens to him - something provocative. The character of Walter is played by professionally-trained actor Richard Austin in a forthcoming comedy, The Man with the Plastic Sandwich, to be performed at dinner theatre in early November and later at the Heritage Playhouse.
At first, Walter meets a lively young hippie played by Lisa Quinn, an actress new to the Coast but with former stage experience in Cape Breton. She's yellow to his blue; she's a free spirit to his overwhelming anxieties; she wants sex, he wants to remain faithful to his wife. Then there's the elderly guy with the freewheeling attitude who finishes up Walter's sandwich. He's played by Terry Karkabe (aka Terry Di Falco and previously seen in various roles in the Beachcombers 1976-1980). This philosopher is a student of life but he just happens to have sales technique tips for Walter who has taken on new employment as a hot tub salesman.
Finally, when a glamorous woman in a red dress and gold high heels (performed by Anna Lee Fairley, last seen in Little Shop of Horrors and St. Bart's Angel in a Ball Cap) takes a run at him, Walter is forced to react and change.
The play by Roger Karshner is set in the 1970s at a time when values were changing rapidly, and it gives ample opportunities for humour as the fearful Walter emerges from his strait-laced prison.
The director for this production is Daniel Tyrrell, the co-founder of the new theatre group, Coast Community Productions. You may have seen some Tyrrell touches in previous productions without knowing it, as he has designed many stage sets. With this play, Tyrrell unleashes 20 years of experience as an actor and stage manager along with some expertise at directing. The cast has responded well and approaches the comic play with sure-footed timing and flair. The assistant director is Emily Cardinall, who has acting, dance and vocal experience and has offered backstage work for many local productions. Heidi Riggs and Lisa Mackay have choreographed a closing routine and Billie Carroll is lighting designer.
Simone Tyrrell (previously seen as the sexy mistress in A Bedfull of Foreigners) is co-founder of this new theatre and acts as stage manager for this production. The Tyrrells have high hopes for the transformative power of theatre and they see the new group's formation as a way to strengthen the community, support emerging artists and raise money for local charities. Some proceeds from this production will go towards the Elves Club.
They're off to a good start, as their opening six performances will be for dinner theatre at Pebbles Restaurant in Sechelt, always a popular event and usually hosted by Peninsula Players.
"We're into co-operation," said Peninsula producer Marilyn Browning, who is co-producing the event with Coast Community Productions. The long-established theatre group wishes the best for the new kid on the block.
The Pebbles production in Sechelt opens Thursday, Nov. 3, and runs Friday and Saturday evening, then again the following weekend. Tickets usually sell out quickly for the five-course dinner and show. (Call Pebbles at 604-885-5811 to reserve.)
The production then moves to the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons opening on Nov. 17 and running for two weekends at 8 p.m. with Saturday matinées at 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 26. Tickets for the Gibsons show are $18 (matinee $12) and are available at Gaia's Fair Trade, Laedeli in Gibsons and Lucy's in Sechelt.
