Gallery 7 Theatre in Abbotsford presents the romantic holiday comedy Parfumerie starting on Friday, Dec. 13.
The production is adapted by E.P. Dowdall from the Hungarian play Illatszertarby Miklos Laszlo.
Parfumerie inspired the hit movie You've Got Mail starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, and the Broadway musical She Loves Me.
"This gem of a play has all the feels people are looking for in their holiday entertainment," says Ken Hildebrandt, Gallery 7's managing artistic director.
"I've waited a long time to bring this heartwarming and funny play to our stage. Audiences can expect a theatre experience filled with just the right balance of drama, comedy and good old-fashioned holiday cheer."
It's Christmas 1937 in Budapest, Hungary. George works in a parfumerie, a factory and retail store manufacturing and selling soaps and perfumes.
Just before the holiday, his boss, Mikolas Hammerschmidt, suddenly fires George for mistakenly believing he is having an affair with Hammerschmidt's unfaithful wife.
Meanwhile, George's actual love life is thrown into chaos when he discovers the stranger he has been corresponding with by mail is none other than Amalia Balash, a co-worker with whom he constantly fights.
For the employees of the parfumerie, only the truth can lead to a happy resolution in Christmas tale.
Directing Parfumerie is Sarah Green, who directed last year's hit production of Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley.
"Parfumerie is a classic tale of friendship, reconciliation, longing and all the many facets of love," she said.
"It's filled with dramatic irony, often sharing with the audience what the characters have yet to discover, thus adding to the humour of each bumbling moment. The author did a brilliant job of tying themes of friendship, brokenness, love and grace into one comedic story that will have you experiencing all the feels from start to end."
Playing the role of George is Liam Whatley, who has appeared in numerous productions at the theatre, including A Tale of Two Cities, The Sound of Music and most recently, Prince Caspian.
Playing Amalia, George's nemesis turned potential love interest, is Victoria Zator, who last appeared on the Gallery 7 Theatre stage in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Playing the often over-bearing, feisty but ultimately caring Mikolas Hammerschmidt, is Quinn Martens, who last appeared at the theatre in Murder on the Orient Express.
Performing the rest of the eclectic mix of characters are Jessica Blanchard, Spencer Danek, Angel Duran-Heon, Tiani Foster, Shayna Kerrie, Cameron McKerchar, Evan Rachwalski, Gerry Thom, Linda Wack and Andrew Yousif.
Parfumerie runs for nine performances on Dec. 13 and 14 and 17 to 21 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Dec. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser Way.
Visit gallery7theatre.com or call 604-504-5940 for tickets and more information.
