If you love classic Hollywood comedies starring the likes of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, then this one’s most definitely for you.
The Royal Canadian Theatre Company is returning to the Anvil Centre stage with Norm Foster’s Screwball Comedy, onstage March 6 and 7 at the Anvil Centre.
The Canadian playwright pays homage to the screwball comedies that were popular in Hollywood in the 1930s and ’40s, playing on the fast-talking, wise-cracking hilarity of those classic films.
In Screwball Comedy, the year is 1938, and the hard-working Mary Hayes, who’s trying to find a new career, sets her sights on the male-dominated world of newspaper journalism. The editor-in-chief pits her against his self-absorbed ace reporter, Jeff Kincaid, in a high-stakes contest. If Jeff writes the better story, he gets to keep his job; if Mary wins, she will replace Jeff.
The story in question? A society wedding – with a mystery.
It’s all packed with snappy banter and goofy characters – who, in the production, are played by just four actors. New Westminster’s Ian Harmon is onstage as Jeff, with Keara Barnes as Mary.
They’re onstage alongside Michael Charrois and Toni Reimer.
New Westminster’s Stephanie Bruce is the stage manager.
The Royal Canadian Theatre Company’s production will be the Western Canadian premiere of the play, and the Anvil Centre dates mark the first shows in the company’s six-city Lower Mainland tour.
It’s onstage Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, with shows at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. both days. The Friday matinee will be a special relaxed performance, adapted for those with sensory issues or other challenges that can make typical theatre productions an overwhelming experience.
Tickets for the Anvil Centre shows are $29.99 regular, $24.99 for seniors and those under 14, or $99.99 for a family four-pack. They’re available at www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
For all the details, see www.rctheatreco.com.
