Every bride dreams of the perfect wedding.
That doesn’t usually mean the groom waking up in a hotel suite on the big day with a strange girl he can’t recall meeting in bed with him, and his bride-to-be about to arrive.
That’s the situation faced by the hapless couple in the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild’s upcoming production of Robin Hawdon’s contemporary comedy Perfect Wedding.
Palmerston area resident Reuben Poot plays the besieged bridegroom, Bill.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Poot, who is making his first appearance with the guild after taking part in several Theatre Norwell productions during his high school days.
Bill’s bride-to-be, Rachel, is played by Drayton resident Sarah Williams, who has appeared in several previous GWTG productions, including the musicals Leader of the Pack and Christmas Carol.
Best man Tom, played by Sean Weed of Harriston, is enlisted to help cover up the scandal, but ends up having to make sure he doesn’t get blamed for the presence of the scantily-clad stranger, played by Katrina Sachs of Ayton.
Weed is taking part in his first comedy, after making his stage debut in the guild’s hit musical Ebenezer.
For Sachs, who studied Theatre Arts in North Bay, Perfect Wedding is her first experience with community theatre.
“I’m loving it. The cast is great. I’m so impressed with everything,” she says.
Sarah Hoyland, who recently moved to Harriston from Guelph, is enjoying both her new community and her role in the show as a member of the inn’s housekeeping staff.
“This has been a very pleasant experience, I can’t say enough about it,” she said.
While it’s her first role with the guild, Hoyland had previous experience with community theatre in her hometown of Orillia.
Amanda Desjardins of Palmerston joins the chaos, playing the miffed mother of the bride.
“It’s a very funny play,” said director Richard Jaunzemis, adding the humor arises from “complications” in the evolving situation faced by a diverse group of characters.
“It involves alcohol, falling off bar stools, things like that,” he notes.
With a cast that’s largely new to the local stage, Jaunzemis is happy with how quickly the group has come together.
“I’m very pleased with the way the cast has meshed,” he said.
“Right from the get go I could sense the enthusiasm this bunch had, how they are working with each other. It’s going to be a great production.”
Perfect Wedding runs April 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30pm, with a matinee on Sunday, April 19 at 2pm at the fully-accessible Harriston Town Hall Theatre. Tickets are available for $15 at Harriston Home Hardware, Walsh’s IDA in Mount Forest, or by calling 519-338-2778. For more information on the guild visit www.greywellingtontheatre.com.
