Red Deer Players is partnering with Prime Stock Theatre to help hit the pause button on polarization and global strife.
What the world needs now is more song and dance — and laughter, said Lori Lane, the director and creator of More Mixed Nuts, a Return to Song, Schtick & All That Jazz.
“There’s a lot to be said for sitting back and laughing at ourselves and world situations,” added Lane. “This is a fun reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.”
The origins of More Mixed Nuts — which opens on Friday, April 26, at the Scott Block Theatre — go back in 2019, when ‘pandemic’ was still an academic concept for most people.
Red Deer Players did a one-night-only music and sketch comedy show called Mixed Nuts that went over so well everyone was asking “why did we only do this one time?” recalled Lane.
Last fall, talks turned to reviving this show — only as an all-new vehicle. This time, Prime Stock Theatre was interested in partnering on the production with Red Deer Players.
Everyone felt a fun, choreographed musical was what’s needed, said Lane, who feels it’s been years since this kind of local production was staged.
She began leafing though scripted comedy sketches written by John Cleese (Fawlty Towers), Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) and others. Eventually 16 diverse ones were chosen for the More Mixed Nuts show, including four by former Red Deerian Blaine Newton, who now lives in Edmonton.
Sketches range from a couple minutes to eight minutes in length and cover a gamut of comedy styles — from witty humour to slap-stick. “There’s a bit of everything in this show,” said Lane. The first act will poke fun at politics. The second takes a humorous swipe at marriage and private life.
Prepare to meet bumbling politicians, a nutty art professor, a bridal couple dealing with cold feet at the altar — even a well known actor who’s so down at heel he’s considering treading the boards in Trochu.
Lane said the sketches will be interspersed with 16 Broadway numbers that tie in with similar themes. Music from The Phantom of the Opera, Rent, My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Oklahoma, Chicago and other major musicals will provide some tuneful fodder.
The show’s music director and pianist is Morgan McKee, and the choreographer is Elisa Nixon. Ten local cast members, including Paul Boultbee, Nigel Lane and Starlise Waschuk, have been in rehearsals since February.
Lane feels everything is falling into place. She hopes audience members will “kick back” at this light-hearted show, which will provide a couple hours of laughter and soothing respite.
More Mixed Nuts runs April 26-28 and May 3-5. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Please visit reddeerplayers.com or eventbrite.ca for tickets and more information.