Malaspina Theatre department offers three one-act plays

Two laughs and one tear - that’s how Malaspina University-College Theatre department bills its upcoming spring production - a series of three one-act plays which run March 3 to 12.

"We wanted to do something different for our annual spring show," said producer Mike Taugher, "so we’ve selected two short comedies and a drama."

Check, Please by Jonathan Rand is a comedy about dating. The story focuses on a series of blind dinner dates that go from bad to worse.

"Dating can be hard," explains director Liesl Lafferty, "especially when your date happens to be a raging kleptomaniac, or your grandmother’s bridge partner, or a mime."

Hard Candy, another comedy by Rand, is about job applicants at Banff Enterprises who do just about anything to claw their way up the corporate ladder. In a fast-paced series of hilarious interviews, the new recruits try every trick in the book - from bribery, nepotism and the Old Boy Network to blackmail, seduction and mind control to get the job of their dreams.

Booby in the Trap, by playwright Ed Monk, is a short drama about an American soldier who sits in a combat zone, trapped by a land mine. As he waits to see what will happen to him, scenes from his past, present and future unfold around him.

Lafferty directs all three plays. She is joined by lighting designer Michael Taugher of the Malaspina theatre faculty, costume and set designer Erin Macklem and sound designer Robin Boxwell. The cast and backstage crew include students in Malaspina’s two-year theatre program.

All three plays run at 8 pm on March 3, 4, 5, and 10, 11 and 12 in the Malaspina University-College Theatre, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo. Tickets are $12; $8 for seniors and students.

Selected plays will be performed during lunch time shows March 7 to 12. Preordered bag lunches will be available for pick up in the theatre lobby after 12 noon, with the lunch time shows starting at 12:30 pm. This includes a lunch from Subway with choice of sandwich, drinkbox and cookie for only $8, including the show. These tickets must be prepaid in advance. Show only tickets are $5 each.

For reservations, and to preorder lunch, call the Theatre box office at 740-6100.