Lafferty’s Wake visits Morinville
The Morinville Community Cultural Centre is about to morph into Rory’s Pub as mourners come to celebrate Lafferty’s Wake.
In this Irish-styled play, American playwright Susan Turlish creates two hours of interactive fun and comedy by turning the entire hall into a pub.
All the stock characters stroll into the pub – Lafferty’s overly dramatic grieving widow Kathleen, a woman who gave birth to Charlie’s 13 children; his consoling daughter Maggie Clancy and her less than devoted husband Patrick.
Molly, an old friend of Charlie’s appears as Rory, the barkeep who keeps the drinks flowing. Off in a corner Father Pettigrew, the village priest for 25 years, warms his special chair quaffing his own special drink.
The interactive farce derives its comedy from audience involvement. St. Albert Theatre Troupe mounted it last year for 13 nights to sold-out houses.
The production has been completely recast with the exception of Global weatherman Kevin O’Connell as Rory Finn and St. Albert actor/musician Mark McGarrigle as Father Pettigrew.
New faces are Rita Jensen as Kathleen, Sandra McCallum as Maggie, Adam Montgomery as Patrick and Laurie Borle as Molly.
Lafferty’s Wake is a one-night only event on Saturday, June 4. The Morinville Cultural Centre is at 9502 – 100 Ave. Tickets are $75 or $65 for seniors. Call 780-939-7888.
Frente Collective produces a cautionary tale
Playwright Leslea Kroll’s play Swallow asks big questions. Set on the shores of the tarsands Tailings Pond #555, Swallow is a tale of sisters – Jules and Karly – two migrant workers from the submerged land Aluvut.
As keepers of the pond, they are tasked with discouraging all bird landings. Jules longs for home and escapes deeper and deeper into the spirit world desperately searching for sightings of the elusive Ivory Gull.
Karly starts to realize that her sister is becoming increasingly ill as a result of toxins in the air and must make some hard decisions.
Swallow explores damaging resource extraction against the fragility of our bodies as well as the familial bonds between the sisters.
It features Laura Raboud as Karly and Rebecca Starr as Jules.
Frente Theatre Collective presents Swallow at the Garneau Theatre from June 1 to 5. A talkback follows the June 4 afternoon performance. Tickets are $20 at door.
