The Big River Arts Society is preparing a show full of murder, mystery, comedy and music with their upcoming dinner theater production The Last Resort.
The local arts society is partnering with the Rotary Club of Athabasca to put on its third annual dinner theatre show at the Nancy Appleby Theatre June 1, 2, 8 and 9.
BRASS president Brian LeMessurier described the show as a “murder mystery musical comedy" and added it is different from the society's last two dinner theatres.
“We’re very excited to be performing it,” LeMessurier said in an interview, adding the play is a Canadian production. “It’s nice to support Canadian writers and we’re a local group, so we’re all about keeping it as close to home as we possibly can.”
Robert Balay is one of the eight local area actors performing in the production. He said it’s the first time he has been in a theatre production in 10 years and added it has been an enjoyable experience rehearsing.
“We have a lot of laughs,” Balay said in an interview. “A lot of people can relate to it and it’s just a lot of fun. It’s going to be very funny, I believe.”
The dinner is being organized by the Athabasca Rotary Club, while the theatre production is being done by BRASS, LeMessurier said.
The dinner theatre acts as a fundraiser for the society, he added, as well as giving local artists a platform to display their skills.
“We’re hoping the community will do as they’ve done the previous two years and come out in large numbers,” he said. “They’ll be impressed with the meal and they’ll be impressed with the quality of local talent.”
Balay said it is a good opportunity for people to have a fun night out in town.
“It’s an opportunity for people to have a night out in Athabasca, have a nice meal and then go to a hopefully very funny show,” Balay said. “They’ll get lots of laughs and go home very happy."
Tickets are available at Servus Credit Union, Value Drug Mart or online at www.eventbrite.ca. Tickets cost $60 for dinner and a show, or $25 for just the show. The dinner portion starts 5:30 p.m. while the show starts at 7 p.m. on each of the performance nights.
