Grey Wellington Theatre Guild offers look behind scenes with comedy on theatre show

HARRISTON – The Grey Wellington Theatre Guild (GWTG) is set to stage a comedic farce about putting on a play.

When the Don Zolidis comedy An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance hits the boards later this month audiences will get a hilarious look behind the scenes as a middling theatre company is suddenly compelled to scramble together a high stakes production at warp speed, officials say.

“This play is about a community theatre group that’s in the middle of rehearsals when they get the opportunity to enter a contest with a massive cash prize offered by a woman who has a secret agenda,” explains director Peggy Raftis.

“They switch plays and have two days to pull together a play that’s going to win the contest.”

“Each character plays a couple of different personalities. It’s farcical, but believable at the same time,” notes Raftis, who also plays a stage role in the production.

Raftis says the scenarios in the play will be easy to relate to for anyone who’s been involved in planning and staging a show, or any kind of a volunteer community event.

The cast includes some veteran GWTG performers as well as actors who, while new to the guild, have picked up stage experience in other venues.

The cast includes: Minto residents Dave Fear, Jessica Pinkse, Peggy Raftis, Megan Raftis, Jason Biffis and Patricia von Westerholt; Mount Forest residents Jack Riehl and Brian Campbell; and Ayton resident Jason Rohrback.

An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance runs Nov. 25, 26 and Dec. 2 and 3 at 7:30pm and Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 at 2pm at the fully accessible Harriston Town Hall Theatre.

Tickets, $15, are available from Harriston Home Hardware and Walsh’s IDA in Mount Forest, or Eventbrite at greywellingtontheatre.com. Tickets are also available at the door, or reserve by calling 519-338-2778 or emailing gwtheatreguild@gmail.com.

The Grey Wellington Theatre Guild is looking for volunteers for front-of-house positions such as ushering or selling 50/50 tickets at its upcoming production of An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance. 

Anyone interested is urged to call 519-338-2778 or email gwtg@wightman.ca.

The guild will hold a casting for its spring 2023 comedy Two Witches, No Waiting, at the theatre on Dec. 7 and 8 at 7pm. For more information go to greywellingtontheatre.com.