Okotoks' theatre troupe is taking its latest play to the city.
Noises Off, the Dewdney Players' upcoming production, showcases the absurd hijinks of a dysfunctional group of thespians as they try to put on a play-within-a-play.
"The joy of this show is the humour of having to put a show on," said director Katie Fournell. "It's fun because it's a farce making fun of a farce."
Written in 1982 by English playwright Michael Frayn, the play features sardines, an Arab sheik and more shenanigans as Noises Off's fictional troupe does a terrible job of rehearsing its own play, Nothing On.
"It's definitely one of the top comedies ever written," said Fournell. "It's got humour for everybody. It's got some slapstick, it's got some witty wordplay, it's got underwear. You name it, it's in this show."
Besides its stand-out comedy and story, the play also boasts an elaborate set that's unlike anything Dewdney has ever done before.
"It's got a massive set that actually turns 180 degrees on stage so that the audience can watch the second act from backstage," explained Fournell, who is confident that Noises Off is a professional-tier production.
"It's one of the biggest challenges I think Dewdney's taken on and it has been worth every minute of it."
In a break from tradition, the Dewdney Players will perform Noises Off in Calgary rather than Okotoks.
According to producer and longtime Dewdney Players member Ed Sands, the size limitations of Okotoks' Old Church Theatre (formerly the Rotary Performing Arts Centre) prevent Noises Off from being successfully performed there.
"Because it's a two-storey set, we can't do it there," he said. "It's so big and you have to revolve it... it's an immense undertaking."
Sands added that the Old Church Theatre, which is the usual location for Dewdney Players productions, "has an intimacy that can't be duplicated" but that its small size and technical limitations ultimately required Noises Off to be performed on a larger stage.
Noises Off will be performed at the Evan Hazell Theatre, located in the Brookfield Residential YMCA in Calgary's Seton neighbourhood. The venue is just under 20 minutes from Okotoks by car.
According to Sands, hosting the production at the Calgary venue was the most effective solution given the high cost of renting the Viking Rentals Centre and the impracticality of using smaller multi-use facilities.
Noises Off opens on Oct. 30 and runs until Nov. 9. Shows start at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Nov. 2 and 9, both Saturdays.
Tickets, which are $25 per person or $20 for seniors and students, are available through Eventbrite.
Learn more about the Dewdney Players, including further details on tickets and upcoming productions, here.
