Mesa

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FUT theatre takes Hatters on
a charming little trip to Mesa
TENILLE TELLMAN

Medicine Hat News

Fut in the Hat Theatre Guild took about 50 Hatters on an incredible and charming trip to Mesa, Arizona on Wednesday night.

With only two actors on stage for the majority of the production, Doug Curtis' heartwarming comedy unfolded as 34-yearold Paul, played by Mike Waskalik, drove his wife's 93-year-old grandfather Bud, played by Grant Bray, to his retirement trailer in Mesa.

Using a simple set in a small and intimate theatre, the play was a animated through creative facial expressions and a white screen in the background which occasionally flashed images relevant to the location the two were driving through. The set also allowed for easy transitions between scenes which prevented the actors from losing the audience's attention.

It soon became difficult to decipher if humour was found in the clever and witty script or the chemistry between the two performers. Either way, the audience chose to settle in, enjoy the ride, and laugh along the way.

Waskalik played a struggling artist whose values and interests easily contradicted those of a stubborn senior. Bray was comedic and convincing in his voice, expressions and comments, but his dialogue touched Paul on a more personal note. As Bud was simply eager to get to the retirement trailer for what he believed could be his last trip, Paul opened his mind and ended up learning more about himself.

Along the way, the two met David Stewart, who played a customs officer, security guard and cowboy at different locations. Though brief, every character Stewart played was memorable and kept the audience laughing.

The cast and crew showed dedication and commitment not only to learn the lines, but to take a small production and make it into an unforgettable show.

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News Story

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Take a trip to Mesa

from the MEDICINE HAT NEWS Mar 22, 2006

Fut in the Hat is taking theatre goers on a trip to Arizona.The theatre company’s latest production, Mesa, is the story of a man named Paul who agrees to drive his wife’s 93-year-old grandfather, Bud, to his retirement trailer in Mesa, Ariz.“It’s about his search for himself,” director Karen Cunningham said of Paul’s journey. “He’s kind of lost his inner self and travelling with this old man he starts to find out who he is.”Due to the old man’s age, Bud expects this to be his last trip to Arizona. His reflections on life help Paul’s quest for life’s answers.“There’s a lot of poingancy there.”There’s humour, too.“You can imagine taking a 93-year-old man on a trip, he ends up having some experiences he hadn’t expected.”Those experiences teach him a great deal.“Inside that old husk there is still a human being inside with feeligns and needs,” Cunningham said.And not only do those experiences teach him about Bud, but about himself, too.The play has been described by those who have seen it as “charming,” the director said.Written by Calgarian Doug Curtis, the play stars Grant Bray as Bud and Mike Waskalik as Paul. While the actors may be familiar to local theatre lovers, Cunningham said the play’s set calls for something different.“It’s the most simple set I’ve ever seen.”The primary elements of the set are two lawnchairs, Cunningham said, noting the play calls for it to be that way. The lawnchairs are used as props for the seats of the car, beds in a hotel and, of course, as lawnchairs at Bud’s holiday spot.The theatre company hopes to use a projector to cast images up on the backdrop to add context to the scenes.Mesa will be staged in the Black Box theatre in the Cultural Centre on March 23-25 at 7:30 p.m., and March 25-26 with 2 p.m. matinees. Tea and cookies will be served at the matinees.Tickets are $15 plus GST and available at The Esplanade box office, online at www.tixx.ca or by phoning 502-8777. Tickets for opening night are already sold out.

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