Welcome to Periscope Playhouse's 'The Neighborhood Crime Watch'
Article content
Periscope Playhouse's adult comedy The Neighborhood Crime Watch can only be described as a laugh-out-loud farce.
Featuring a seven-person cast – two burglars, brothers Ronald (Pete Matthews) and Donald (Tim Wells), break into a house. After bungling the escape, they find themselves in a Neighborhood Crime Watch meeting with the vigilante Mona (Val Donnell), homeowner Lisa (Katy Wells), psychiatrist Myron (Fred Dupon), off-duty Officer Buddy (Paul Bechard), and Father Bob (Bob Smoulders), the local parish priest.
Hilarity ensues in the two-act play, written by Craig Alpaugh.
"The premise is my character, Lisa, is having a Neighborhood Crime Watch meeting at her house the very day that the burglars break in," said co-producer and actor Katy Wells. "They hide, then pretend they're part of the meeting."
Directed by Carmen Agro, Neighborhood Crime Watch runs May 21-23 at 8 p.m., May 24 at 2 p.m., May 29-30 at 8 p.m. and May 31 at 2 p.m. – all at the Eden Community Centre, on Eden Line. Tickets are $17. For ticket information call 226-271-3815 or 519-874-4026.
Periscope Playhouse regulars will note the change in venues. After two years at the now-closed St. Paul's United Church in Port Burwell, the theatre group is performing for the first time at The Community Centre in Eden.
"It's going to be in this room in here," said Katy Wells during a break in last Wednesday's dress rehearsal, nodding toward a double-size room with space to seat 60 people and their new stage, which will be managed by Lynda Nevins. "We're going to build a stage starting on Saturday (May 9)."
"It will be a magical transformation, you watch," said Tim Wells.
"You will be impressed – we're known for it," he added with a smile. "It's true. We've turned buildings into places I never dreamed we could... and this one's got a lot more potential than that."
With the stage still-to-be-built, rehearsing was a challenge.
"Very challenging," said Tim, noting their smaller rehearsal room. "We don't even have doors. There's at least two more doors that you don't see, plus a window that I climb through, plus a bar... but wait for our magical transformation..."
Despite the challenges, Katy said they are right on schedule.
"I think we're ahead, as far as the lines go."
"We have lots of time," said Tim.
Three of the Periscope actors will be recognized by Theatre Tillsonburg goers – Pete Matthews, Paul Bechard, and Val Donnell.
"I've done a couple shows in Tillsonburg, too" Katy noted.
"Everyone here has had some experience. Bob (Smoulders) was in our first play (the comedy Smart Ass at the Vienna Community Centre)... actually it's just about a reunion of the cast of our first play for Periscope – except for Jeff."
Periscope's The Neighborhood Crime Watch is sponsored by Lerners of London, Barry Wade, Gunn & Associates, Rosemary and Albert White, Margot and Serge Pieters, Marion and Jeff Rogers, IBI, Sportwood Printers, The Co-operators, Cardio Plus Women's Fitness and Day Spa, Otter River Farms, Tom and Eva Southwick, and Ron Flick.
For online information on the Season 4 opener, see www.periscopeplayhouse.ca or visit their Facebook page (Port Burwell Periscope Playhouse).