The Artists of Crossfield Theatre Society (ACTS) will mount its latest original adults-only dinner theatre production, Not Suitable for Primetime, March 29 and 30 at Crossfield Community Hall. According to Stacy Price, executive of the society, the play centres on two brothers who launch an Ellen-DeGeneres-style talk show with the help of their nanny, after receiving their trust funds from their controlling mother. The play is the latest in a string of annual productions since ACTS launched in 2012. “Every year, we write a new play, so all our plays are originals and they are written by some form of our group – basically whoever wants to contribute,” Price said. Not Suitable for Primetime was written by Grant Harrison, Jennifer Price, Jeff Gray, Pam Fleischer and Hilary Budgeon, with some additional help from Grant Budgeon. Fleischer is also directing the play. Typically, Price said, script-writing begins in May, with the aim of staging the production in late March. “We picked the end of March because it’s been a long winter, everybody wants to get out of the house – everybody needs to do something,” Price said. “We’re in a farming community, so it’s before everybody gets out in the field.” Writing original material allows the society to reflect its community through its art – Price said there are often several inside jokes and Easter eggs meant specifically for Crossfield residents. “But we hope [the jokes] are still funny, even if you don’t live in the community,” she said. The cast of 16 actors, along with a handful of behind-the-scenes crew, have been working together to mount the production since January, with rehearsals taking place once or twice a week. As in years past, the troupe will hold a dress rehearsal for the residents of Rocky View Lodge March 24. “Some of the seniors, it’s just too hard for them to get [to the play],” Price said. “They always just appreciate us so much. They make us feel so good about it.” Over the years, the society has developed quite a following, Price said, and all 240 seats for the March 30 show are already sold out. As of March 20, some tickets remained for the March 29 show, which are available for $50 at brownpapertickets.com Doors will open at 6 p.m., and Price said the cast will perform the first two acts before taking a break for dinner, provided by Airdrie’s Harmony Catering. Dessert will be served after the third act, and the production will finish around midnight. Every year, the company’s play is great fun, according to Price – not only for the audience, but also for the cast. “We do it for the love of doing it,” she said. “We’re closet actors and actresses. We may not be the best, but we have a good time.”
