Help yourself to hilarity, courtesy of Penticton theatre company
Many Hats Theatre company has selected “Self Help,” a hilarious farce by Canada’s most-produced playwright Norm Foster as their third show in the 2018 season.
“Self Help” is a the riotously-funny journey of actors Cindy and Hal Savage, whose acting careers lack luster and the financial rewards they so ardently desire. The doldrums persist until they stumble on the writings of a self-help guru whose sold-out shows and bestselling publications afford him a lifestyle to which the Savages aspire.
Yachts, mansions, and private jets await.
Chucking aside their stage career, they embark on a new and very successful adventure as self-help gurus motivating the masses and lining their pockets.
Once they’ve hit the heights of wealth, fame and fortune, things start to go hilariously off the rails.
Cindy and Hal careen from one misadventure to the next aided and abetted by their bumbling maid Bernice, and their bossy agent Ruby.
Throw in a nosy policeman snooping around and a sneaky investigative reporter and you have a recipe for hilarity.
Many Hats favourites Tammy Hansel and Vance Potter play the hapless Savages and their bumbling housekeeper Bernice is played by Jeanne Wnuk. To add to the chemisry, there’s Ruby, the Savage’s brassy agent (Dianna Zumpano-Gin) a hungry police detective (Christopher Millin in his Many Hats debut) and a tabloid newspaper columnist (Jason Lane), whose goal is to snoop around undercover until he can expose the whole sham.
In true farce tradition, there’s lots of mistaken identities, and lots of door slamming.
“Self Help” is directed by Eric Hanston and produced by Ben Amos. Stepping off the stage for this production, Tony Collins stage manages.
“It’s hilarious and a lot of fun... perfect summer fare,” Hanston said. “It’s a classic farce, doors opening, doors closing, people are coming and going. It will be a good belly laugh. We have a very strong cast, with one newcomer to our stage and three Many Hats members coming back on stage.”
“Self Help” will be live on the Cannery Stage in the Cannery Trade Centre in Penticton on July 5 until July 28. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m..
Tickets are $25 for adults and $22 for students and seniors (GST included). As usual, advanced tickets may be purchased from The Nest and Nectar (beside the theatre) or reserved during their business hours by phoning 250-493-7275. (The Nest and Nectar is closed on Mondays.)
There will two gala opening nights. First, on Thursday, July 5, there will be an opening reception immediately following the performance featuring treats from the Nest and Nectar and wines from Play Estate Winery.
On Friday, July 6, there will be a reception for the sophomore performance featuring craft brews from The Cannery Brewing Company, more goodies from Nest and Nectar and door prizes furnished by Andre Martin of Minuteman Press.