The Lampman Community Theatre鈥檚 production of Ladies Night at the Legion is being hailed as a success by Maureen Ulrich, the Lampman area playwright who penned the show.
Ladies Night was performed nightly from Dec. 7 to 9 at the Lampman branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Ulrich said it attracted a sold out crowd of more than 120 people for one performance, and drew at least 100 people for the other two evenings.
鈥淭he audience response to the show was tremendous, so we had a lot of fun,鈥� said Ulrich.
People who were at the show enjoyed the little surprises that were part of every performance.
鈥淚t was nice that people didn鈥檛 tell other people what had happened,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淚f people asked about it, they were told they had to go see it, so then all the little surprises could surprise everybody.鈥�
Ladies Night at the Legion is the follow-up to last year鈥檚 performance of Snowed In at the Legion. Ulrich said it tells the story of a planned fundraiser for the legion, which is going to be a ladies鈥� night out benefit featuring a burlesque dancer. At the same time, there is a surprise 60th birthday for Ellen, who is one of the main characters.
鈥淎t the last minute this dancer was not able to come, because he had pulled a groin muscle,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淪o then they had to find other entertainment.鈥�
The second half becomes a talent show, featuring all the different cast members who lent their singing and dancing abilities to the production.
鈥淭he men showed up at ladies night also dressed as women for a little while, and then later on came in and did a Village People YMCA dance to finish it off, so it was fun,鈥� said Ulrich.
She was pleased that the performers could show off their talents. Damien Seeman, for example, was given a small part because of his abilities with stand-up comedy. Then he revealed to Ulrich that he is a trained Irish dancer who knows moves similar to those found in Riverdance.
鈥淗e did it, and it was hilarious,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 know that he had that hidden talent.鈥�
Ladies Night at the Legion was designed to have a handful of lines for most of the cast. When Ulrich spoke with one of the cast members afterwards, he said he didn鈥檛 have as many lines as in previous years, but he was happy to do some fun physical comedy.
鈥淪o they鈥檙e already talking about next year, and what we should do,鈥� said Ulrich. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure where we鈥檙e going to go. We already have 28 in the cast.鈥�
The show was not only a popular draw for people from Lampman, but from Estevan and other communities in the southeast region.聽
Ulrich noted Ladies Night at the Legion raised $7,000 through ticket sales and various draws during the three nights. The bar was pretty busy on a couple of nights as well.
Proceeds will be directed towards the upkeep of the Lampman legion branch. Ulrich said she believes the money will be used to replace some upstairs windows.
