"Oh What a Lovely War!" opens at Mal-U Theatre March 6

Theatre buffs won’t want to miss another engaging theatrical experience with Malaspina University-College Theatre Department’s spring production of Oh What a Lovely War!  March 6 – 15 at Malaspina Theatre.

“Oh What a Lovely War!  is a highly entertaining history lesson full of singing, dancing, and physical comedy,” said Director and Malaspina theatre instructor Ross Desprez. 

“The play itself is a retelling of the first world war, set in a British Music Hall. While it's being told in a farcical manner with dramatic overtones, it serves to remind our audience that we are still involved in a war.”

The premise of the play is that while the boys are off fighting in the trenches during World War I in 1914, the women are left behind to run the war machine and tell the tale.  “I’ve dubbed the group ‘The Southside Ladies Auxilliary’ and it’s as if their organization has decided to give this presentation to keep up the moral and make sense of the war,” explained Desprez. “The cast appear as women from the era and add costume pieces, masks etc. to portray men.”

Desprez said what makes the production unique is that he’s cast the play almost exclusively with women.

“As usual, our theatre department is largely made up of women so I wanted a project to involve them,” he said. “Our theatre students also enjoy performing musicals, and this play has a large enough cast that it provides opportunities for as many students to perform as possible.”

As set designer for this production, third-year theatre student Lisa Vezina is charged with the task of transforming the Malaspina Theatre into a British Music Hall.  "During the show, a slide show will project real images from the war, while behind a scrim, ghostly figures of the men reveal the casualty losses, reminding everyone about the realities of war while the women baffoon the action downstage ," explained Desprez. 

Lighting design for the spring production is also being aptly handled by third-year theatre student Anthony Neary.  

“Having both the set and lighting designed by students is essentially a first for us,” explained Mike Taugher, coordinator of the Malaspina Theatre department. “These students are among the first in our new Bachelor of Arts, minor in Theatre degree program. We’re quite excited about their contribution to the overall production and it’s a great opportunity for the students.  I know they’ll do a great job.”

Desprez and his cast members are also excited about musical direction for Oh What a Lovely War! , which is being expertly provided by well-known musician Doug Dodd and his protege Nico Rhodes who will also provide live accompaniment.

“Theatre-going audiences know Doug and Nico from their fantastic work with Joelle Rabu in the Piaf production, which just closed at the Chemainus Theatre,” said Desprez.

Opening night for Oh What a Lovely War!  is Thursday, March 6 at 8 pm. Additional evening shows are March 7 and 8, and March 13 to 15, at 8 pm.

Matinees run Monday, March 10 at 4 pm, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday March 11, 12 and 13 at noon.

All performances take place in the Malaspina University-College Theatre, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, and the theatre is wheelchair accessible.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students, and $8 for groups of 10 or more. To reserve, call the Malaspina Theatre Box Office at 740-6100.