Teatro takes off on a Mediterranean romp

Nationally acclaimed playwright Stewart Lemoine has written an astonishing number of plays — about 60 he thinks. And each is embellished with a stylish, quirky and ever so slightly mysterious signature.

His latest, a premiere of The Ambassador’s Wives, opens Thursday, July 8 at Varscona Theatre. This brand new murder thriller is set in the infamous roaring ‘20s when jazz blossomed, short skirts redefined women, art deco was in vogue and Wall Street crashed.

Lemoine propels his armchair adventurers to breezy Monte Carlo into the money-conscious society of the political upper crust. But this champagne-drenched world populated by glamorous figures is rocked off its hinges when murder takes place at the Panonian Embassy, unleashing a vortex of secrets and intrigue.

Although Lemoine refuses to reveal the meat of this whodunit, he will say the murder is a catalyst that reveals Panonian ambassador Olex Ypanoff’s many romantic and political indiscretions. And yes, a bevy of beauties descend upon the embassy to claim their rightful spoils.

The playwright was inspired to create this show after watching a mount of his 1990s murder mystery, Evelyn Strange, playing at Calgary’s Vertigo Theatre.

“I realized people really love mysteries and it has such a strong fan following. It’s a crowd pleaser and I thought it was time for another one,” Lemoine says.

Borrowing a sheaf from Franz Lehar’s operetta The Merry Widow he concocted a hare-brained romp with a touch of Georges Feydeau farce. The Merry Widow concerns a rich widow and her countrymen’s outrageous attempts at marrying her off to the right diplomat to keep her money in the principality.

In Lemoine’s version, the Balkan country of Panonia is on the verge of bankruptcy. The ambassador has been travelling across the country marrying rich women and funnelling the money to his country. But when all the wives descend on the embassy in one go, sexual mayhem erupts.

Taking a few abstracts from Feydeau’s bedroom farces, the plot is giddy and convoluted, yet clear, logical and funny with some complex twists and counterturns — all performed with style and precision.

“It was tricky trying to keep track of the plot use, trying to conceal as much as reveal.”

As director, Lemoine has amassed 10 of the strongest actors in the summer catalogue — Jeff Haslam, Julien Arnold, Cathy Derkach, Dana Anderson, Jana O’Connor and St. Albert Children’s Theatre alumna Kate Ryan.

Former St. Albert resident Jenny McKillop also makes her Teatro debut in this sparkling new comedy. She landed the role of Teddy Warfield, a young Canadian adventuress that has inherited a great deal of money.

“She doesn’t quite know where she fits in the world and she’s up for the adventure when she’s invited to help solve the murder,” McKillop says.

A new show is always a risk. “But what could be better for light summer fun?” asks Lemoine. “It has a great cast. Everyone has a chance to shine and sparkle. And it’s quite a thrill.”