The Battlefords Community Players began their performance season this week in the community. Pictured left to right: Candace Dustan, Carol Keller, Fraser Glen. (submitted photo/Donna Challis)

By Martin Martinson

Community Theatre

Battlefords Community Players kickoff theatre season

Oct 20, 2020 | 1:52 PM

The Battlefords Community Players (BCP) drew the curtain on their theatre season this week, hosting their opening performance Monday, with another showing to follow Tuesday evening.

The Outsider is the first production of the year for the performing arts organization. It is a fun for all ages comedy by Paul Slade Smith, the executive producer of the BCP, Donna Challis, said is perhaps perfect for the times.

“It’s all about politics which is very appropriate right now with all of the elections going on around here, but it’s [also] a very funny, very fast-moving comedy,” she said. “I am very pleased to say we actually have very few tickets left, so that’s a good problem to have.”

This fall looks to be quite unlike any other for the Community Players.

Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the organization has had to implement a number of new safety precautions.

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All patrons wishing to attend a show this year, will have their temperature checked at the door and are asked to wear a mask upon entering the facility. Once seated in at their socially distanced table, people will be allowed to remove their masks if they choose to. All beverages will be delivered through table service as well, to minimize foot traffic throughout the venue.

That’s not to mention the new capacity limits, themselves, which have significantly cut into the average attendance allowed at a given performance. However, Challis said ultimately they still felt it was important to host a performance season and offer some much-needed entertainment in the community.

“We had to make the decision that we could operate and survive with somewhere between 24 and 26 people in the audience,” Challis said. “That’s only about a third of what we usually put in here, but we felt it was worthwhile.”

She said the organization was able to do so, because they own their own building. To help make up for fewer people allowed at each performance, they will offer additional showings. What would normally be a four or five-day run will now be an eight-day run.

Despite the challenges this year, Challis said the excitement for the new season remains as present as ever; adding that she has been blown away by the community’s continued outpouring of support.

“It is extremely exciting, and I can’t believe the support we’re getting,” she said. “I can’t believe how excited the cast and crew are about being able to perform again. The fact that people are supporting us makes us feel really good that not only do they like the theatre we do, but they appreciate the safety we put in place as well.”

The Community Players have four different shows planned for the year, as well as additional theatre projects in the works. There will be three ‘show only’ performances and five dinner theatres for each one of the productions.

To learn more about the Battlefords Community Players, their shows, or to book tickets, visit their website.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1