INNISFAIL – Is she guilty of manslaughter or not?
That is the question patrons may ask during Innisfail Town Theatre’s (ITT) spring production of Nuts.
The courtroom drama by Tom Topor unfolds on stage beginning April 19 and runs for three weeks on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“For our spring play we try to do more dramas and our fall play is always a comedy,” said Kim Norlin, director. “We want to express our artistic selves and this gives us the opportunity to do that.”
“It’s a drama; it’s very intense,” she added. “It discusses child abuse to an extent. It discusses mental illness, so there are a few very sensitive and (current) topics going on. It takes place in 1979 but it’s no less relevant.”
Nolin said the title of the play comes from the questionable mental state of the main character.
“The main character Claudia is being charged with manslaughter. Her parents are very wealthy and they want her to be committed,” she said. “They want her to be deemed unfit to stand trial. (Claudia) does not want that. She actually wants to stand trial because she feels she isn’t nuts.
“This is a hearing to prove whether she is fit to stand trial or not,” added Nolin.
The one scene three-act play takes place in the courtroom at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
This year’s spring production has a total cast of nine actors and actresses from the Innisfail and Red Deer areas, including several veteran performers and some new faces as well.
“There’s a good mix of experience and fresh (perspective),” said Nolin, adding rehearsals began in early February and continue through to the middle of April.
“The actors have been fantastic. The personalities are really coming out in the characters,” she said.
“I think this play is a very good play. It’s very well written and it’s very well done,” said Nolin. “I think people will really enjoy it.”
Kim Norlin, director
"We want to express our artistic selves and this gives us the opportunity to do that."
