Gallery 7 Theatre presents its production of Having Hope at Home starting Jan. 24 at MEI Auditorium (4081 Clearbrook Rd.).
The play by Canadian playwright David S. Craig is a comedy about family dynamics, set around a formal family dinner in which the character Carolyn, nine months pregnant, has invited her estranged parents.
The table is laid, the turkey is in the oven and Carolyn has just gone into labour. In a valiant attempt to hide her labour pains from her parents, Carolyn struggles to maintain the facade of civility as she wrestles to find her place in the family.
This comedy explores love, letting go and reconciling each other’s differences, all the while hoping against hope for a brighter tomorrow.
“Having Hope at Home is super-funny and a welcome anecdote to those pesky winter blues and post-Christmas blahs,” says executive/artistic director Ken Hildebrandt.
“The highly tense situation the characters find themselves in becomes the very catalyst they need to start working through some of their issues. The play has a lot of heart and an eclectic mix of likable characters who are simply trying to make sense of themselves and their relationship with each other.”
Playing the role of Carolyn is Colleen Plenert. Her sensitive and loving French-Canadian partner is played by Phil Dyck, while her parents are played by Larry Hamm and Carissa Boynton.
Carolyn’s grandfather is played by John Dawson and newcomer Sinziana Corozel plays the midwife, Dawn.
Making her directorial debut at Gallery 7 Theatre is Becky MacDormand, who recently graduated from Trinity Western University. Set design is by Brian Ball, costume design is by Catrina Jackson, lighting design is by Philip Miguel and sound design is by Brittany Grant. The stage manager is Tanya Schwaerzle, and production photographer is Dianna Lewis.
Having Hope at Home runs Jan. 24, 25 and 30, and Feb. 1 and 6-8 at 7:30 p.m. with discount matinees Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets for evening performances are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students, $17 each for groups of eight or more, and $12 for children (12 and under). Matinees are $15 general and $12 children.
Tickets are available at House of James, 2743 Emerson St. (phone 1-800-665-8828 or 604-852-3701), or online at gallery7theatre.com.