Paper Bag Players plan a “Perfect Wedding”

It’s time for a Perfect Wedding. The Paper Bag Players’ Christmas production is coming together, with the comedy, written by Robin Hawdon, as the centerpiece of their annual dinner theatre.

A farce built around mistaken identity, the play begins with a groom waking up beside a woman who isn’t his bride, who he doesn’t know or remember meeting. The actual bride shows up early, leading to comedic chaos.

Director Amber Matechuk says for the Christmas production they always want to find play that connects to a wide audience, and they felt that Perfect Wedding was a choice with relatable characters, and mistaken identity situations are something that audiences enjoy.

It hasn’t been an entirely smooth process getting the play in front of audiences, Matechuk reveals. One of the original actors had to drop out, leading to club president and assistant director Pam Milani taking on her role.

The cast is a mix of veterans and newcomers. Bailey Lemcke and Ginnett Beattie were in previous Christmas productions, while Pam Milani, the group president, has been a consistent presence in the group for the past decade or so. Mike Thompson is  performing with the group for the first time, and Matechuk says it’s great for the group to have new people joining and they’re looking forward to seeing what Thompson brings to the stage.

This is Matechuk’s first time in the director’s chair, and while it’s an easy group to direct, she admits that as a performer it has been a strange experience being behind the scenes.

“It’s hard to not jump on the stage. I prefer to be on it rather than watching it, because I prefer to be acting. But the others said I was bossy so it’s working out fine!”

There will be three performances, all at the St. Gerard’s Parish Hall. The first is a cocktail night on December 1. Tickets for that show are $25, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:00 p.m. The performances on December 2 and 3 are dinner theatres, the doors open at 6:30 p.m., supper is at 7:00 p.m. and the show begins at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $45 each. All performances are followed by live music by the Jaywalkers. Tickets can be purchased at www.paperbagplayers.com.