Skip to content

New West actors onstage in Stage 43's M*A*S*H

Three New Westminster residents are in the spotlight for Stage 43 Theatrical Society’s first production of the season. Stage 43 is kicking off an “As Seen on Screen” season with Tim Kelly’s M*A*S*H, onstage Oct.
M*A*S*H, Stage 43
John Cousins, Bob Le Pine and Chris Gursche are part of Stage 43’s production of M*A*S*H, coming to the stage Oct. 11.

Three New Westminster residents are in the spotlight for Stage 43 Theatrical Society’s first production of the season.

Stage 43 is kicking off an “As Seen on Screen” season with Tim Kelly’s M*A*S*H, onstage Oct. 11 to 20 at Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam.

The cast includes New Westminster actors John Cousins as Capt. Benjamin Franklin Pierce (Hawkeye), Chris Gursche as Capt. Frank Burns and Bob Le Pine as Gen. Hamilton Hartington Hammond.

The play is based on Richard Hooker’s book MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, following his own experiences as a doctor in a MASH unit in Korea. It’s since become best known for the TV version (starring a cast of such luminaries as Alan Alda, Loretta Swit and Jamie Farr) that follows the antics of talented surgeons who use mischief and insubordination to deal with the pressure of finding themselves in the middle of the Korean War.

The idea of staging the play came from Stage 43 vice-president Michelle Berg, who took it to an executive meeting last summer. The play – which features an ensemble of 30 characters (requiring at least 15 actors, even with doubling roles) – is a stretch for Stage 43, which typically picks plays with no more than 10 actors.

“We bravely took on the challenge, knowing that the title alone would draw both talent and audiences,” said a press release from the theatre company.

Director Dale Kelly stepped up to lead the production, which has been in rehearsals through the summer.

“The rehearsal room has not only been filled to the brim with cast and crew (and chairs standing in for army cots), it has also been full of laughter and passion for project,” the release said.

Stage 43 is also continuing with its “not-for-profits helping not-for-profits” campaign by using this production to help raise awareness and money for Honour House Society – which provides a free-of-charge temporary home for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and emergency services personnel and their families while they are receiving medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area. (See honourhouse.ca.)

M*A*S*H is onstage Thursday, Oct. 11 through Saturday Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. Opening night (Thursday, Oct. 11) includes a cast and crew mix-and-mingle reception after the show, with refreshments from sponsors The Saint St. Grill and Blue Heron Fruit Winery.

Evergreen Cultural Centre is at 1205 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam (adjacent to the Lafarge Park-Douglas station on the SkyTrain). Tickets are available through www.stage43.org or by calling the box office at 604-927-6555.