When Grandma dies in a freak snowboarding accident she propels her quirky family into a web of deception, love and sex.
Novel Attractions, a two act romantic comedy produced by Driftwood Players under the direction of Dave Hurtubise and written by local author Jasing Louvel, will open in a world premiere at Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons on July 27.
The demise of Granny reunites her four grand-daughters and their mother. The funeral is scarcely over before family dynamics are at centre stage, and so are family secrets. And what about that enigmatic housekeeper who lived with Gran? What does the family really know about her? As in most good dramas, surprises are left for the very last scene.
Berni Garrison plays Hanna, the housekeeper with the overactive work ethic. "I love comedy," says Garrison, who has also been the music director for many of the Coast's pantomimes. Marcia Forst as Lydia is the flamboyant, larger than life mother who is still able to startle her daughters. Audiences will know Forst from her array of characters in Christmas pantomimes, in the plays Funny Money and Fame and her dinner theatre stint with the Peninsula Players.
Lydia's daughters include Anne-Marie Lindell, last seen in her own show Maya's Song: In Spite of the Booze, and Jennifer Holczer as Janean. Holczer's comedic performance was last seen in Separate Tables and On Golden Pond. Another daughter, Lizzie, played by Coast actress Melina Cassidy (last seen in Here on the Flight Path for Peninsula Players) has arrived from England with Antonio, a handsome Latin lover in tow (Brad Wright). The baby of Lydia's family is played by Erika Wrightman, also known for her role with the Coast Academy of Dance plus appearances in five musical productions. As the bubbly daughter, she spends most of her time being unhappily married and chasing after Antonio. "I'm kind of a brat," she says of her character.
Kevin Crofton plays Uncle James. The multi-talented Crofton has appeared on stage in lead roles such as Harvey, also in film and TV in Masters of Horror, New Beachcombers and various commercials. The cast is rounded out by Edmund Butler in his first professional engagement, Steve Hill (formerly of Twelve Angry Men) and several understudies, David Gilson, Todd Alain, John Smith and Cam Ware.
The playwright, Louvel, lives in Gibsons just up the street from the theatre. She has heard the siren call of drama before - she's written two novels, a screenplay, sci-fi and even an episode of Seinfeld, but none of them were ever aired or published. After being inspired by last year's Showcase of the Performing Arts (SOPA) to develop a full-length play, she dusted off one of her draft screenplays, fleshed out the characters and was astonished when the Driftwood Players enthusiastically adopted it for their own.The cast will be using their talents to fundraise for the show this weekend Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m. in a Novel Attractions Cabaret at the Gibsons United Church. They will also present an excerpt from the play at the opening ceremonies for Sea Cavalcade.
Novel Attractions opens on July 27 with a special wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m. It runs July 27 to 29 to wrap up SOPA, then continues into August with a special late night run on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. for the dinner and theatre crowd. Tickets are available now at Coast Books, Talewind Books and Hallmark Cards.
