Hurry Hard

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Hurry Hard

Playwright/s – Kristen Da Silva

Production Company/Theatre space – Rosebud Theatre / Rosebud Opera House

Length – 2 Acts,  2 hours, 30 mins (one intermission) Plus dinner before the show…

Genre/s – Rom com/sit com

Premise – A curler, who has been divorced for 7 years, contends with his freeloading (but brave) brother, and a new goodlooking team member to win the bonspiel for Didsbury by enlisting his ex-wife and her friend.

Why this play? Why now? – This play is win for small town and rural audiences. (And we are also in dire need of a belly laugh!)

Curiosities – I wondered what I could write to entice more Calgarians to travel out for the fun.

Notable Moment – Finding out the curtain time for the show is now 7:30 rather than 8:00! This is a welcome half-hour change for those who travel from Calgary.

Notable writing – Kristen Da Silva has written the perfect Canadian sit-com to add to her list of comedy hits. The play is well constructed and has great characters spouting funny lines. This play should be programmed at every dinner theatre and summer festival.

Notable performances – It’s a perfectly balanced cast headed up by Rosebud alumnus Nathan Schmidt. Schmidt plays protagonist nice guy whose conflict aversion chronically affects his relationships. His brother (Brent Gill) is the Costello to Schmidt’s Abbott. Matthew Mooney is the young Ethan Hawke, with more brawn than brains. Haley Rosenau continues flexing her comedic muscles and Sarah Joylyn Irwin rounds out the winning team.

Notable design/Production – Dale Marushy doubles the set as the clubhouse and the ice, and it works. His attention to detail is what makes this set feel authentic.

Notable direction – Craig Hall is the team skip who has led his whole team to victory.

One reason to see this show – It rocks! One of the best shows I’ve seen at this theatre.