Moose Jaw Community Players take home trophies at TheatreFest 2022

The Moose Jaw Community Players’ (MJCP) return to the stage was fun and triumphant — their production of The Ladies Foursome, written by Norm Foster, took second place at Theatre Saskatchewan’s TheatreFest 2022, held April 20 to 24 in Melfort.

In addition, Debbie Burgher won the Hilda Allen Memorial Trophy for runner-up best director; Crystal Milburn won the Woodward Trophy for Best Actress for her role as Connie; and Nadia Frost won the Mary Ellen Burgess trophy for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Margot.

The Ladies Foursome is a comedy with a cast of four women. Three of the women have been golfing together for more than ten years — their fourth member, Catherine, has recently died. The day after her funeral, they play a round in her honour and are joined by an old friend of Catherine’s whom they haven’t met before. Over 18 holes of golf (each hole is a different scene), the conversation spans the full range of human experience, from light and trivial to heavy and serious.

“Love them. This was such a wonderful journey with the four women. Working with them and (stage manager Joan Stumborg) too,” said Burgher, “they were just beautiful people.”

Burgher said that all four of the actors turned in consistently fantastic performances, and was thrilled that Milburn and Frost were honoured for their portrayals.

“Both of them were wonderful, as were (Fiorina Hauck as Tate) and (Karma Klassen as Dory)… They worked so hard. Their job is like any art; it requires a lot of work for it to become something beautiful, and they all did a really good job.”

The MJCP put on two performances at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery on April 13 and 14 before their TheatreFest appearance. MJCP President Crystal Milburn said that those shows were also a success.

“I was really pleased with how well attended they were,” Milburn said. “I think it speaks to how ready people are to get out of their homes and start doing stuff again. I think everybody had a great time, and I know some people came out for both shows.”

Milburn added that she had a wonderful experience working with the cast and crew of The Ladies Foursome, and was a bit sad it was over.

“There’s always a bit of a letdown… I don’t know if grief is the right word, but there’s a moment where you have to say, ‘that’s over and done now,’ and it just encourages us to think about what we want to do next.”

The Community Players are already planning their next show. Burgher said that she and Stumborg are working on a play called Notoriously Moose Jaw which they hope to begin producing sometime in the next year or so.

And they are always looking for new members, Burgher added. Not just for acting, but for all the other important work that goes on behind the scenes. Sound, art, set design, costume, there are many different things that need to be done in theatre.

“And we’re happy to teach people what that means, they don’t have to come in with any kind of knowledge. It just becomes a really nice family and community that you can belong to.”