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Cast and director falling in love with 4 Old Broads

The cast is set and rehearsals are well underway for the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society's production of Four Old Broads.

The cast is set and rehearsals are well underway for the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society's production of Four Old Broads.

Director Patrick Aubert said he was able to successfully find a strong cast for his show, which is set to come to Martin Exeter Hall in April. So far he said the entire cast has been working well together and are loving the chance to bring this story to life. 

"It's an amazing ensemble. They clicked almost immediately," Aubert said. "One of the tasks I asked them to do was come in with a description of their character at the first rehearsal on Jan. 4 just so they could put some flesh on that. Every single person came back with some really amazing stuff."

Aubert said the audition process in mid-December went largely smoothly with a large turnout from the community. The one hiccup was the fact he came down with COVID-19 just before and had to attend via Zoom, though he was able to attend callbacks in person after he recovered. Aubert noted he was happy to hear from some of the new faces they auditioned as a way to get to know people and the community. 

The cast is made up of a mix of veteran 100 Mile House actors and newcomers with six women and one man taking part. Aubert remarked he was happy he was able to cast so much talent, especially among women of a "certain age". 

"The play takes place in a retirement community, so the characters are of that age. They're retired individuals," Aubert remarked. "I was able to cast women close to the age of the characters, which I think is great. Older women don't have as many opportunities for large roles and that was my goal when I started looking for a script and I was successful in doing that."

Four Old Broads follows the adventures of four Golden Girls-esque characters attempting to organize a vacation together. It centres on retired burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton attempting to organize the cruise with her pious best friend Eaddy Mae Clayton. Along the way, they'll have to outsmart Magnolia Place Assisted Living's evil nurse Pat Jones with the assistance of the forgetful Imogene Fletcher and the death-obsessed Maude Jenkins, all while figuring out why so many patients are disappearing. Add in a romance between Imogene and retired Elvis impersonator Sam Smith and you've got a recipe for a fun production. 

Right now Aubert said the main challenge for his cast, other than getting off script, is stopping themselves from laughing at how funny some of the lines are. He noted that playwright Leslie Kimmel has given them an amazing script to work with and the cast is taking what she has provided and bringing it to life. 

"It's phenomenal, it will be a great production."

Throughout February Aubert and his cast will be rehearsing in Saint Timothy's Anglican Church before moving into Martin Exeter Hall in March. Aubert remarked his goal before they get into Martin Exeter Hall is to really help his actors develop their characters and interactions with one another. 

"We want to bring that to life so when the audience sees it they experience not just two-dimensional things on stage but real characters who have been developed and given life by the actors inhabiting these people," Aubert said. "These characters could be your older aunt, your mother or your grandmother. They have that kind of relationship with each other which I think makes the play very interesting and allows people to relate to it in a much better way." 

Tickets for the show, which runs from April 3 to 12, are not yet on sale but will be available at the door, at Didi’s Boutique, Donex Pharmacy and Department Store and online at 100mileperformingarts.com.



Patrick Davies

About the Author: Patrick Davies

An avid lover of theatre, media, and the arts in all its forms, I've enjoyed building my professional reputation in 100 Mile House.
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