ESTEVAN — The Lampman Community Theatre's tickets for the latest production – Night at the Lamp by Maureen Ulrich – were three-quarters sold for each night as of the end of November, and sales kept going strong.
The cast is in dress rehearsals this week and start performing on Dec. 7.
The play will also run Dec. 8 and 9. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Lampman Legion Hall. The play is about two hours long with an intermission.
Ulrich said after the success of last year's country show, this year she wanted to touch on rock and roll music.
"Last year, we did a play that focused on country music, Murder at the Opry," Ulrich said. "And I'm actually a big fan of classic rock and roll so I thought, this year we would do something that pays tribute to rock and roll music.
"I got the notion that we would include some ghosts of famous rockers like Janis Joplin, Gordon Downie, Christine McVie and Jim Morrison. So, I asked my community theatre members if they'd take on those drills, and they're having a lot of fun with the costuming and interplay between those characters.
"Essentially there is a rock and roll cafe called The Lamp. We don't say where it is, but I'm envisioning something like the Wha? Cafe, which is very famous in Greenwich Village, New York. But it [The Lamp] is slated for demolition because they're going to bring in a condo development," said Ulrich.
"So, they want to save the café, and these ghosts are involved in helping to save the café. Basically, it's just an excuse to rock out to some old classic rock, sing a few tunes, and raise money for a really good cause, which is the Lampman legion."
Ulrich noted that the annual play at the legion is the big fundraiser, which helps the local branch to keep operating.
"It is a major fundraiser for the legion. It's the one that keeps their doors open. So, we urge people if they have an evening free, to come and support this great cause," Ulrich said.
She also noted that they've found a format that works well for their community theatre and the audience, and even though the plot of this year's play is different from last year's, the style is somewhat similar.
"It takes place in one day. It's morning in the café, and then maybe an hour later, and after intermission, we roll into what's an open mic night at the café, so it's just an excuse to pull in whoever has the desire to sing," Ulrich said.
"I actually asked one young man, he's about 12, if he'd do a bit of a comedy routine. So, he's collected a bunch of jokes that are based on rock bands, and he has about 14 of them. It's a lot of fun. And whatever the talents are in our community, and whatever risks people are willing to take, I'm happy to put them on stage and let them rock out."
The play involves 21 people with the youngest being around 10 years old and the oldest is a 76-year-old rookie.
"It's just so awesome to bring together people, who maybe don't have much to do with each other at other times during the year, but they come together really as a family and put on a great show," Ulrich said.
To buy tickets, contact Ulrich at 306-487-7512. Tickets are $25, and students and seniors pay $20.
