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Century House theatre troupe explores online dating and cannabis

As We Age
Golden Age Theatre Cetnury House
Members of the Golden Age Theatre group at Century House are hard at work preparing for hits weekend's production, which features three whimsical and funny plays.

Golden Age Theatre inspires folks to take to the stage – and who knows what else – no matter their age.

Joanna Dupras is part of the backstage team with Golden Age Theatre, which puts on amateur productions at Century House.

“They are a lot of fun,” she said. “They are fun, not only for the actors and backstage crew that are working for us, but also for the audience, which is growing and growing every year.”

Many of the folks involved with Golden Age Theatre do so after attending the plays as audience members.

“They are just people who are looking for a way to get out their creative abilities. Sometimes it’s people who would have liked to have been on stage but they didn’t think they had the necessary qualifications or didn’t have the time at that time to do it,” Dupras said. “All amateurs, there are no professionals involved. They are people who are doing it because they want to be part of a fun-loving creative team.”

Dupras said Marilyn Remus is wonderful director and is fully aware that the performers are amateurs.

“It doesn’t matter what stage you are in life, there is always something interesting to do. It’s just applying that,” said Dupras, who joined Golden Age Theatre five years ago. “Not only is it interesting and challenging to do, but it also opens up new circles and friends who can become very, very good friends. All working together toward the same goal. I think that would be the message – don’t hesitate, don’t stay alone. Come out – there are a million things to do, a lot of people to meet, and it can be a lot of fun.”

The fall productions, which touch on current topics and situations, are being performed on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) and on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.)
“Our plays, for the most part, are very whimsical and light and funny, and our audience likes that,” said Dupras, who handles the group’s publicity. “We have a wonderful audience. They are very noncritical – they realize we are not professionals. They just really, really love it.”

The plays performed by Golden Age Theatre often hit close to home for aging community members.

“Our plays – we handle situations based on relationships and choices that have to be made, but we handle every situation in a very respectful manner. We don’t want to make fun of anyone. That’s very important that we are not making fun of anyone,” Dupras said. “We are just showing what life is. Our audience really, really enjoys that.”

This weekend’s production features three plays, including The Obstacle. The group purchased the rights to perform this 10-minute play.

The Obstacle is about a minister who has been divorced. Two of his parishioners are looking at him a potential husband,” Dupras said. “There is an obstacle – the obstacle is his secretary/assistant, who has worked with him for years and years and years. She protects him.”

Century House member Eileen MacKenzie, an actor with the Golden Age Theatre, wrote Never Too Late. It runs about 30 minutes in length.

Never Too Late has to do with online dating. It has to do with something people are doing these days and even seniors are doing these days, so that’s very topical,” Dupras said. “It has to do with somebody who is looking for a date for somebody else’s wedding and meets three potential dates in a restaurant. It is a very, very funny one.”

Last up is Gladys and Gloria’s Cannabis Adventure, a 40-mintue play written by Remus.

“That one’s going to be very entertaining. It’s two seniors that are having a terrible time falling asleep. They are going through a very bad period of insomnia. One of them suggests that it might be a good idea of they try these cannabis brownies,” Dupras said. “There’s all sorts of adventures as they go into the shop, bring home the brownies. A lot happens there while these people are experimenting with going out into the cannabis world, so to speak.”

Tickets are $8 for members and $10 for nonmembers. They’re available at Century House – 620 Eighth St. or 604-519-1066.

“There is an intermission,” Dupras added. “Refreshments are served. That’s all part of the price.”