In the play A Bed Full of Foreigners, the French hotel is not in tip top condition: the radiator clunks, the clock is slow, and Karak the porter likes to sip a beer on the job, much to the dismay of manager Heinz. Nonetheless, the British couple who check in are happy to find an available room, given that crowds have gathered for a local festival starting the next day.
Enter Helga Philby, who plans on surprising her philandering husband Claude, who is also staying at the hotel. Unfortunately, she has been checked in to the wrong room - one that is already occupied by a married man who is convinced she is the chambermaid. Everything starts to unravel - including Helga's bathrobe - and the fun begins.
Mistaken identities and comical capers abound in this classic British farce by playwright Dave Freeman to be performed at Pebbles Restaurant in Sechelt during the next dinner theatre production from Peninsula Players.
The non-profit amateur theatre group has been somewhat refreshed in the past few months. Several new faces have joined the cast and crew, along with former favourites.
This is the first play for Radhika Samwald, who plays Brenda, wife of the British couple. John Smith, who has previously appeared in Driftwood productions, plays her better half, Stanley. Deanna Proach is new to the company; she plays the efficient wife, Helga, opposite the talented Todd Alain as her husband.
One of the most comedic characters, Karak, the porter, is played by Kenny Gustafson, who was last seen in the very funny Lend Me a Tenor. Is Karak from Lapland or Bulgaria? It's anyone's guess, although the charming manager who is portrayed by theatre veteran Brian Harbison is driven crazy by his bumbling staff. That just leaves the wild card: the lovely cabaret performer played by Simone Tyrrell, last seen in Quilters.
Lori Pepper is also new to directing, and she has been assisted and mentored by the experienced Bob Hunt. Mary Beth Knechtel is the stage manager, and the producer is Sue Carson.
Freeman is about as British as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, which Pebbles restaurant plans to serve during the dinner theatre. Freeman wrote two of the infamous Carry On film scripts plus material for many British comedians such as Tony Hancock and Frankie Howerd.
A Bed Full of Foreigners, first produced in 1974, had an 18-month run in London's West End. Anyone can tell that Freeman also wrote for TV's Benny Hill show from 1955 to the 1960s. The male posturing of Claude and Stanley during one of the play's scenes is reminiscent of that comedy show's saucy humour.
The dinner will be five courses: mixed greens with crabmeat to start, PEI mussels and saffron cream soup, lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate, then prime rib au jus with Yorkshire pud, roasted baby potatoes and herbed vegetables. Dessert is English trifle, of course.
The dinner theatre runs Oct. 28 to 30 and Nov. 4 to 6. Reserve your tickets early by credit card at $45 per person, as they sell out quickly. Phone Pebbles Restaurant at 604-885-5811 for reservations.
