INNISFAIL – It’s always a good time when a group of guys get together for a men’s weekend at the cottage.
Innisfail Town Theatre’s (ITT) fall production, Beer For Breakfast, portrays the longstanding friendships between four high school friends, now in their mid-50s.
“One of the key elements of the play is the relationships and how they’ve changed and how they maybe haven’t,” said Janis Bell, director. “(It’s about) this group of four guys, they are all in their 50s now and they’ve been friends since high school. They would go away for guys' weekends where there was guys' weekend rules, so that usually meant no rules.”
The two-act play by Sean Grennan runs from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8 at the Ol’ Moose Hall.
It’s the first time ITT has produced Beer for Breakfast and the first time they have used playwright Grennan.
“While I like comedies, I also like ones where the characters have depth to them,” said Bell. “It’s got some really good underlying stories. There’s stories of friendship, loyalties, some misplaced loyalties. So in amongst all the humour there is also another really good storyline,” she added.
There are four characters in the play, all are married, except one who is divorced, noted Bell. They meet up at one character’s vacation homes on a lake for a men’s weekend away, with all but one showing up. Someone else shows up in his place instead.
“The three of them arrive first and they’re waiting for their fourth buddy to arrive and he doesn’t show up but his wife shows up,” said Bell. “The story goes from there.”
The characters are portrayed by local actors Robbin Edgar, Mark Kemble, Dave Kinsella and Leah Adams.
“Rehearsals have been going well,” she said. “They’re all experienced (actors) with Innisfail Town Theatre and they’ve all done lots of plays, which makes directing quite easy. It’s a small cast and they have a lot of lines,” she added.
Bell is encouraging Innisfail residents to come out and enjoy some local theatre this fall.
“Come out with some friends, have a few laughs and enjoy the night,” Bell concluded.
