The ultimate con is playing at Mayfield Dinner Theatre’s musical production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Based on the 1988 Steve Martin/Michael Caine film, Scoundrels scooped up a handful of 2005 Tony Awards for its slick numbers, frothy entertainment and unapologetic nonsense.
John Kirkpatrick, one of St. Albert Children’s Theatre’s most successful alumni, plays Lawrence, a debonair con artist living on the French Riviera out to bilk wealthy American socialites.
The action kicks off when Freddy (Kevin Corey), a low-life grifter who specializes in passing himself off as intellectually, physically or emotionally handicapped, blackmails Lawrence into taking him on as an apprentice.
The swindle picks up speed after the unscrupulous duo targets Christine Colgate who they believe is an heiress to the American soap fortune. But nothing is as it seems and a series of double crosses ratchets up the slapstick humour.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels runs until June 28. Tickets are $59 to $79. Call 780-483-4051 or visit www.mayfieldtheatre.ca.
Most viewers tend to think of television advertising as propaganda. Isn’t that what the mute button is for?
However, Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) is going against the grain to introduce World’s Hottest Commercials, a theatrical screening of wall-to-wall 30-second commercials on May 14 to 17. And every ticket sold goes to support the 23rd annual EIFF coming September 25 to October 3.
The 90-minute show at Metro Cinema in Citadel Theatre is a compilation of the 2008 Clio Award gold, silver and bronze winners. Now 50 years old, the Clio is the largest and most internationally renowned festival with more than 17,000 entries from 65 different countries. The Clio Award highlights the cream of the crop, and is a coveted event for global creative talent.
Tickets for all four screenings are through Tix on the Square, 780-427-1757 or are available at the door. The Citadel Theatre is located at 9828 - 101A Avenue. More information is available at www.edmontonfilmfest.com.
Catch the Key Productions just released Art on Art, an experimental multi-disciplinary work that involved a chain of artists working as individuals.
Vancouver’s Sheena Caddick took a series of specially commissioned photographs and gave them to musician Andrew Smith of the electric arc. Inspired by the photos he created a musical score. The music was then given to Catch the Key’s resident playwright Megan Dart who penned a script. Her sister Beth then directed the love story in a collaborative setting with three actors.
“It’s taking people from individual disciplines and bringing them in blindfolded,” says Kevin Green, a carpenter on St. Albert Children’s Theatre production of Narnia. Green was brought into Art on Art as a light man.
Art on Art runs at TransAlta Arts Barn May 14 to 16 with two nightly shows at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 or $15 for students. For more information log on to www.thesystemstheatre.org.
