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Fraser Valley Stage presents Best of the Half Monty

Production starts Oct. 5 at Abbotsford Community Arts Addition
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Mark Kroeker is among the cast of the Half Monty + 1, presented in Abbotsford starting Oct. 5 by Fraser Valley Stage. (Robert Kenney photo)

If you’re a fan of SNL, Monty Python and British pub-style humour, then you won’t want to miss Fraser Valley Stage’s upcoming variety show.

Then throw in some lively, popular music and you’ve got the makings for the “must-see” show of the fall season in The Best of the Half Monty + 1.

With an intimate cast of 14 multi-talented and seasoned FVS performers, the comedy show is filled with adult humour, hilarious skits and lively music.

Folks may recognize some sketches from previous Half Monty shows such as Killer Fruit (Monty Python), Vitameatavegamin (I Love Lucy), Interesting People, Bucking Frilliant, the Unicorn and more.

The Half Monty is the brainchild of director and show founder Charles Wiebe, who put it together on the spur of the moment in 2000 when FVS was competing in a Gilbert & Sullivan festival in Buxton, England.

He discovered that each group participating was expected to provide a cabaret show after the night of their performance.

Not the usual collection of show tunes sung by the principles, the FVS impromptu comedy show, filled with 19+ humour and music, was the first time the festival organizers had ever seen such a presentation.

Once they picked their jaws off the floor, they loved it. Hence, the Half Monty legacy was born.

Fraser Valley Stage, in its fourth decade of bringing quality live theatre to Abbotsford, has performed the Half Monty on multiple occasions – 2000 in England and 2002, 2009 and 2014 in Abbotsford.

This year’s show, “The Best of,” is filled with the most popular sketches and songs of the past shows and the +1 allows the director to add a little something new.

The cast includes Fiona Brett, Sarah Dussin, Paulina Harskamp, Mark Kroeker, Pat McDermott, Marty Peters, Tony Roper, Sharla Sauder, Kelly Shackleford, Willis Taylor, Carol Wiebe, Al Pattison and Charles Wiebe. Special guests include, Ken Curry, Glenn Deros and Mike Henry.

Show dates are Oct. 5-7 and 12-14 at the Community Arts Addition, 2329 Crescent Way. Doors open at 7 p.m., and showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 (Thursdays) and $25 (Fridays/Saturdays).

They are available online at fraservalleystage.com.

This show is not intended for young audiences, as content in some sketches is suggestive and adult in nature.