Stark originality is the defining phrase for two one-act plays about to hit the stage in town, under the production of KFA Ponoka Community Theatre.
See You Tomorrow, by Kyra Thompson, and Gossip, by Brian Hampton, are being presented April 24 at 6:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m. at the Ponoka United Church. Admission is by donation.
Maree Okabe, who directed a successful run of The Sound of Music for KFA last fall, is also heading up this set of plays, which have been entered in the Alberta Drama Festival Association (Big Valley Region) One Act Festival in Camrose on May 3.
Okabe, owner of the AusCan Ranch’s Go Walkies and Training Centre east of Wetaskiwin, also specializes in choreography.
As to the pair of plays, Okabe noted that Thompson hails from Camrose. "So it's a locally-written show - which is pretty cool."
Hampton's show, Gossip, has been around for awhile and performed many times in the United States.
"Gossip, in particular, is a 'social awareness' play. It has a very strong message, and it's so well-written," she said, adding the story follows a group of high school students who befriend a new student named Gossip, who begins to manipulate and twist the truth to get what she wants.
"It also leads to show that bullying, gossip, and gas-lighting can happen in any social circle - it doesn't have to be a high school," she said, adding there are 13 in the cast.
"Without giving too much away, the story line is an analogy - the main character's name is Gossip, but it's really an analogy for what the play is about."
As to See You Tomorrow, it was written after Thompson was inspired to create the story after one of her singing teachers passed away.
"After experiencing that, she wanted to dedicated the show to her teacher. It's set in the 1970s, and it is a show about relationships and death, and how children deal with it," explained Okabe.
The experience of directing - and of being immersed in theatre in general - brings a sense of fulfillment to Okabe, regardless of the size and scope of a given project.
"I live and breathe theatre, and I was raised in professional theatre. I share my love of theatre with my mom - I'm a bit biased, but honestly I think she's one of the best professional directors in the world. She will often send me plays to read through, and ask me what my take on them is, and how would I do it?
"I'll also send her things and ask what her take on them might be - so we bounce ideas off of each other," she explained.
As for the upcoming one-acts, she noted they offer a less intensive production experience compared to the rigours of staging a conventional, three-act play for example. Either way, it's a journey she will gladly go on every time.
"Again, I just live and breathe it," she said. "I love to stand back and see it all come together."
For more information about KFA Ponoka Community Theatre, head to https://kfatheatre.com.
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For Okabe, directing is a very fulfilling role to play as well.
For more about the show or about Ponoka Community Theatre, call 403-783-4081.
