Playgoers of Lethbridge hosted the Chinook Region One Act Play Festival, Saturday, April 8 at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre. But The Taber Players showed their talent, providing all three entries for this year’s festival.
But there was plenty of familiar faces from previous playgoers of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Shakespeare in the Park Productions acting in the plays.
Julia Cho’s “ The Breakup” was their story of a daughter trying to break up with her overbearing mother. It amounted to be basically a monologue about mother - daughter relations from Teresa Huzar who was adorable as Lil, and small but vital parts played by Angela Renner as mama and Cole Fetting as Lil’s boyfriend Jason.
By the end Lil realizes she misses her mama and indeed that she may be turning into her.
Pam Valentine’s “ A Dog’s Life” was a touching, and heartwarming story about four dogs in the pound talking about their owners and their lives leading up to their residence in the pound.
Darrell Croft was amazing as the old, road wearied hobo’s dog Ben. He deservedly won the best male actor award for his performance, which combined perfect pathos with humour.
Talented young actress Annie Jo Lee shone as the over-excited and naïve puppy Ginger. Mason Merkyl was fantastic as the snobby, spoiled ,overweight puppy Fifi and Joel Bhaskaran stood out as standoffish German Shepherd guard dog Fritz.
The four brought out the human characteristics of their canine characters. Kadence Ridley and Warden Angi Henninger provided the actual human element enhancing the canine stars.
Another Pam Valentine play “Alternative Accommodation” won best play for this festival and Jocelyn Steinborn won best female actor for her performance as harangued and under appreciated mother Anne, of her self involved children: yuppie financial advisor Peter played by Cole Fetting, hyper-motivated business woman Joy played by Jaclyn Elfring and religious housewife Gemma played by Mayson Merkle.
The story is about the grown children discussing whether to move their mother into a seniors home after their dad dies, but without discussing the issue with her.
Drama ensues as Steinborn puts on a fantastic performance tearing her kids a new one and proving that she is doing fine on her own.
Director Jaclynn Elfring won best director for the “Alternative Accomodation.”
Anybody who has elderly parents should see it. And they will get a chance to during the Provincial One Act Play Festival, May 26 and 27 at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre which Playgoers of Lethbridge hosts.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor
