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MINTY: Friends shine in ‘Beer for Breakfast’ at Surrey Little Theatre

Elsewhere, Peninsula Productions prepares a reading of ‘Mary’s Wedding’ on Surrey stage
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Surrey Little Theatre’s current production of “Beer for Breakfast” stars, from left to right, Richelle L. Martin, Brent Cross, Chris Carver and Harry Pering. (submitted photo)

By Melanie Minty, arts columnist

Well, that was exciting – the Surrey civic election, that is. We have a clean slate, an all-new beginning. I voted carefully, and took into considerations what each candidate had offered to Surrey as a volunteer. That is very telling, the act of donating your time to the community because you care about the city where you live.

To the Surrey arts community, get in early with this new council and make your voice in the arts heard. They say they are listening. I am watching. I know we are all willing to work toward a safe Surrey as well as a place that celebrates the arts.

Volunteering in your community is terribly important. I know hundreds of people who contribute countless hours to the betterment of our community. Yep. Those people are involved with community theatre. No one is getting rich, but there it is: A gift. Please support our theatre heritage and our local theatre groups, both amateur and professional: Surrey Little Theatre, White Rock Players, Peninsula Productions, FVGSS: A Musical Theatre Company, and Royal Canadian Theatre Company.

Surrey Little Theatre’s 59th-season kickoff is Beer for Breakfast. Newly elected SLT president, Sara Lohnes, says, “The success of our theatre is due to our many, many volunteers who give hundreds of hours of their time each season. Thank you! We couldn’t do it without you.”

Beer for Breakfast runs at Surrey Little Theatre until Nov. 17, but not every day. Check the website for details (surreylittletheatre.com). In light of our recent elections and things political, this play is perfect fare to present a side of politics, beer, belching and, my favourite, Truth or Dare. Hey, what if we started every council meeting with a round of Truth or Dare? Just a suggestion as an ice-breaker.

This play is about friendship, and the three guys in this show have been friends since they appeared in The Foursome at SLT several years ago. This bond of friendship shows through on stage. Kudos to director Pat McDermott for finding this friendship. It works. Actor Chris Carver is “fun guy,” but life has thrown a few curveballs since high school. Must say, he still has the dance moves! Brent Cross has been involved in community theatre for more than 30 years. Thank you, thank you, thank you for those 30 years of volunteer service.

Harry Pering plays the role of Richard, a man recovering from a stroke. Harry is absolutely brilliant, and I do not say that often. It is a difficult role, and wow! Harry, you did it. Richelle L. Martin is the only woman in the cast, and it is her job to crash the guys’ party weekend. Awkward. So much fun.

Peninsula Productions is a rather new company that is heading toward professional status. That means everyone gets a paycheque. Still, lots of volunteer hours go in to each production. Artistic director Wendy Bollard has been in London, England for an extended stay. She is immersing herself in all things theatrical. “I always love my time in London and get excited about bringing my experiences back to Peninsula Productions,” she writes in a letter. It seems that professional celebrity actors take in live theatre as well as performing. Wendy saw Ian McKellen in King Lear at the Duke of York Theatre in the West End. “McKellen’s performance was stunning, tender and heartbreaking,” she says. “What an actor!” She also spotted Benedict Cumberbatch and Kenneth Branagh among theatre crowds, just acting like “regular” theatre-goers.

Star-spotting is not the object of attending London theatre. Bollard is there to learn, absorb and bring it all home to us. Theatre can make a statement. One show, The Jungle, “is a brilliant piece of theatre about refugees in Calais, France,” Bollard says. “The play takes place in a make-shift restaurant and the ‘stalls’ seating have been removed and transformed into the cafe. As an audience member you become part of the cafe and are served tea and bread.”

This brilliant piece of theatre left her so upset, she couldn’t talk about it. The portrayal of man’s inhumanity to man was overwhelming. Other shows were either boring, or a bit interesting but left her with questions like, “Why this play? Why this play now?”

Obviously, Bollard puts heart and soul and thought into selections for Peninsula Productions. Mary’s Wedding was first produced by the company in 2014. The play, with Bollard as director, will be performed as a staged reading at Surrey Arts Centre’s Studio Theatre on Nov. 21, starting at 7 p.m. Phone the box office for tickets, 604-501-5566, or visit tickets.surrey.ca. This play commemorates the beginning of the Second World War.

The votes are in for city officials, now the rest is up to us. Vote yes for theatre by buying a ticket to an event. Every vote counts.

Melanie Minty writes twice monthly for the Now-Leader. She can be reached at melminty@telus.net.