playRites gets bitten

By Myke Atkinson

Alberta Theatre Project’s annual PanCanadian playRites has many added attractions in the ATP lobby and on cement walkways near you.

One of this year’s added pieces is Playz on the Plaza, a 10-minute musical created by mastermind Joe Slabe, who teaches at St. Francis High School. 27D Dunsinane Drive is a heartwarming story about a couple succumbing to their homicidal instincts.

"The play is a black comedy about two people who both want to escape from reality no matter what the cost with hilarious results," says Slabe.

But be forewarned, Playz on the Plaza, on Stephen Avenue outside the Martha Cohen theatre, can only accommodate 12 audience members per show, so get there early.

Another attraction new to this year’s festivities is playBites 2002: When Art Bites Back. This show, performed by the cast of Dirty Laundry-Calgary’s only totally live space age soap opera-is a completely improvised skit spoofing the playRites festival.

"The only thing that the characters know when they go into the show is what their charcters are and what they look like," says Karen Johnson-Diamond, one of the co-founders of Dirty Laundry.

Johnson-Diamond describes the show as a cross between the afternoon soaps and Whose Line Is It Anyway? Don’t worry if you miss the first instalment of this five episode mini series, as the group does a recap of previous events in true soap opera format at the beginning of every show.

"The great thing for the audience," says Johnson-Diamond, "is that they can come to the playRites festival and see brief new works, hear some platform plays, see the 10-minute musical and then go see the mainstage play. Finally, they can finish the night off with the comedy improv."

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