In the eleven years since Many Hats Theatre Company staged its very first production, it's covered a heck of a lot of material. But for its final offering of 2018, opening November 8th at the Cannery Stage, it goes as minimalistic as it's ever been.
Penned in 2012 by celebrated Canadian playwright Norm Foster, "On a First Name Basis" is a testament to smart dialogue and acting chops.
The entire play unfolds during a single evening, on a single set, in a single conversation between just two actors. Yet it's riveting, right from the first few lines.
Many Hats co-founder and male lead Eric Hanston explains. "My character is David Kilbride, a wealthy, successful writer who's had a housekeeper for 28 years, yet doesn't know anything about her, including her first name. Hence the name of the play, On a First Name Basis.
"So over the course of an evening, and a lot of single malt scotch and really expensive wine, they get to know each other. And there are...surprises. And that's all I'm going to say."
At the other end of the conversation is Jane Pilkey, another Many Hats veteran, who shines equally in the role of Kilbride's bemused housekeeper, Lucy Hopperstaad.
The two play off each other brilliantly, at times butting heads, at times sharing emotions, and always exploiting playwright Foster's creativity to maximum effect.
Says Hanston, "It's written so well that the audience will be in tears from laughter and tears from being touched, and will leave at the end of it feeling uplifted."
The play's director, Ed Schneider, likes what he sees even with five nights of rehearsals still to come.
Schneider, like Pilkey and Hanston, is indicative of the Many Hats' everybody-does-everything approach.
"We call ourselves Many Hats," says Schneider, who's also the company's publicist. "And we all do wear many hats. We all do different things.
"Eric, for example, is our executive producer, but he'll also occasionally direct and appear on stage. And he does everything between, including cleaning the washroom sometimes."
Likewise, Pilkey will metamorphosize from female lead to the director for the company's first 2019 play, "Swing Dance," set to hit the stage in February.
The formula seems to be working. Many Hats has become the city's premier theatre company.
According to Schneider, "We do five productions each year and then 15 performances of each production, so that's actually 75 shows a year. We've been doing this since we incorporated ourselves in the fall of 2007.
"And we sell out most of them. We haven't lost a nickel and everybody gets paid a little mad money. We operate as a co-op, in other words, all the bills are paid and anything that's left over is split up between everybody who operates in the production."
In the beginning, it was all about timing.
"There was another company here before us," says Schneider. "And Eric and I and a number of other people had been talking about starting a theatre company on a co-op basis, but we had no theatre. And it was then that the Cannery (Trade Centre) management came to us and said they had a theatre available.
"We sat down within days of that. Our first meeting was in November of 2007, and we opened a show in February of 2008."
Today, the Cannery Stage is tweaked and upgraded and straight-up impressive. Gone is the flat seating area and portable chairs of a decade ago, replaced with risers and, as of last month, new seats that were originally destined for the failed "New Penmar" community theatre.
The sightlines are wonderful, the lighting is even and bright, the seats are super comfy, and everyone gets a drink holder!
And right next door (the two facilities share a common wall and a door) is Many Hats' BFF, Nest and Nectar, a drool-worthy restaurant that effectively acts as the Many Hats box office and often runs shared promotions. A night of theatre and great food. What's not to like?
"They're great friends. We work very well - symbiotically - with them. They actually sell our tickets, and then on show nights, virtually every show night, they have a buffet dinner. It's hugely popular. You have to make a reservation."
"And a lot of people during intermission go out and have a coffee and a snack. They make amazing cakes. I had one of their chocolate Bailey's cakes earlier today, and...wow."
On a First Name Basis begins its run on the 8th at 8 p.m., and there's a bonus for early attendees. On opening night, there'll be a reception directly after the performance featuring Play Estate wine and Nest and Nectar finger food.
On the 9th, there'll be another reception featuring Cannery Brewing Company craft beer, more great eats from Nest and Nectar, and door prizes from sponsor Minuteman Press.
The play will continue its run every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night until Dec 1st. The first three weekends also feature Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Schneider warns that the matinees are typically sold out, due in part to the "killer brunch" going on next door at Nest and Nectar.
Tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $22 for seniors and children (GST included) and are available in person at Nest and Nectar, or by calling 250-493-7275.
