St. Albert Dinner Theatre is off to a roaring start as it launches a three-pronged season of comedy. Formerly known as St. Albert Theatre Troupe, the community non-profit enters its seventh season. In keeping with the times, organizers are focused on creating fun entertainment audiences can bask in. "This is a stressful time in world history and we need to de-stress. We want people to come out, enjoy a few laughs and have a good time. We all need to get out and leave it all behind for a few hours," said Rita Jensen, St. Albert Dinner Theatre board president. Director Lori Chenger kick-starts the season on Nov. 9 with The View From Here, a small town comedy about an agoraphobic woman that has not left her home in six years. To pay the bills Fern provides a day care service for babies. But life starts to take on a bizarre twist after her sister arrives in a panic and a neighbour, whose wife just departed, moves in with his abandoned baby. The pressure gets hotter after Fern wins a microwave at Super Krogers, but must appear in person to claim it. "Despite the silliness, it has tender moments as people try to help each other. As the plot reveals itself, it's not always zany. The comedy gets absorbed and we get to see genuine human angst. It's about dealing with individual situations. We have to function in the world and sometimes we feel alone, but we are not," Jensen said. Matthew Carlin's A Little Piece of Heaven opens Feb. 8 just in time for Valentine's Day. With 16 actors appearing in small character roles, this is the largest production the company has mounted. The setting is a quirky tourist shop dubbed "A Little Piece of Heaven." It is owned by an equally odd couple named Elizabeth and Henry. If you've lost something that was precious to you, it might be found in this curiosity shop. On one fine day, Michael, a troubled biker on the way from point A to point B breaks down by the shop. While working on repairs, he goes to work for Henry and Elizabeth. He meets Lily, an 87-year-old woman who has visited the shop for years. He's strong-minded. She says what she thinks and soon they disagree on everything. "It turns out to be a touching relationship and Mike is the glue that holds everything together." The season's third run is a double header debuting April 26 with I.M. Gray's A Mad Breakfast and Gary Apple's When God Comes for Breakfast, You Don't Burn the Toast. In Mad Breakfast, two practical jokers, Jones and Mrs. Brown, run a boarding house. They tell all the guests that Mr. Long, a wealthy visitor is extremely interested in their hobbies. Long, instead is told the house is an insane asylum. "They all go off the deep end." When God Comes for Breakfast poses a dilemma for a couple. What do you do if there are no eggs in the house and the house is unclean? You get rattled. But the Almighty has a few surprises in store beginning with his appearance. All productions are held at Kinsmen Banquet Hall at 47 Riel Dr. Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner from Morinville's Green Bean Catering is served at 6:45 p.m. and showtime is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55, and $50 for seniors. Call 780-222-0102. For more information visit http://www.stalberttheatre.com/index.html Operating as a community non-profit, St. Albert Dinner Theatre is always looking for front of house and production volunteers. If interested, email [email protected]
