Fourteen local actors will be taking the audience for short, sharp comedic rides this month as they perform a series of one-act plays.

Jim (Steve Buoninsegni) tries to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on Wanda (Florence Maione) in the off-beat one act play "Wanda's Visit" at a dress rehearsal, Sunday. the Dewdney Players Group Theatre present four one-act plays at the Elks Hall on Friday and Saturday and again on March 5 and 6. photo by Bruce Campbell

The Dewdney Players Theatre group is gearing up to compete in an annual one-act play festival and the group will host performances in Okotoks to give audiences a chance to see the talent they will be bringing to the competition.

The Dewdney Players are presenting four one-act plays for An Evening of Entertainment at the Elks Hall on Feb. 26 and 27 and March 5 and 6. The plays are concentrated nuggets of emotion and laughs, since the actors have a maximum of 25 minutes to pick up the audience, take them on a ride and drop them off again, satisfied.

Okotoks resident Jane Platt is producing the plays and has been watching as the 14 actors transform themselves into the people at the heart of each story. She said she is impressed with each actor’s ability to rise to the demands of playing multiple characters.

“Most of the cast is in two plays, so they’re playing two totally different characters,” said Platt. “It’s intriguing. It’s a different make-up, different costume and they have to totally get into character for two different roles. So it’s a lot harder than doing one play.”

Platt said the four one-act plays are largely comedic.

Dale Fea is directing “Wanda’s Visit”, which is a play about a couple who is restless in their marriage. Sue Gothard is directing “The Real Problem” which is a comedy about love and some conflicting advice. Matt Molyneux is directing “The Wedding Story”, a comedic fairytale told in 10 minutes. Finally, Nicola Paynton is directing “Overtones”, a story of two women with alter egos having tea in the early 1900s.

All four plays will be performed in the Alberta Drama Festival Association’s annual Foothills Region One Act Play Festival in High River on March 12 and 13.

The Dewdney Players’ performances in Okotoks will be held at the Elks Hall and singer Tanya Ryan will entertain the audience during the interlude.

Tickets to “An Evening of Entertainment” are $12.

tneely@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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