The Southpointe Academy drama department presents Christopher Durang’s The Marriage of Bette and Boo next week.
The play is a comedy yet it deals with serious issues like alcoholism, infant mortality, mental health, family dysfunction, religion and death.
“The way [Durang] handles it is brilliant. There are moments where you get hit in the gut,” says instructor Greg Kean.
Kean, who says he’s a Durang fan, notes the school did one of his plays last year during a one-act festival.
The Marriage of Bette and Boo, an autobiographical look at the playwright’s upbringing, deftly balances sadness and frustration with giddy intervals of absurd situations and humorous behaviours, a press release explains.
The drama students are handling the challenge well, Kean says.
“To actually step into these roles and imagine them is hard. I can see them doing really, really well.”
The play runs from Dec. 7 to 9 at 7 p.m. at Southpointe Academy. Tickets are $10, $5 for seniors. There is a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. which is free for seniors.
• Southpointe will also play host to an exhibition round event of the Canadian Improv Games Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Teams of students from a handful of schools, including South Delta Secondary and Southpointe, will take turns performing.
“It’s a night of comedy,” Kean says.
Tickets are $5 and are available online at www.eventbrite.ca and at the door.
