Audiences will surely be buzzing after seeing Miracle Theatre’s latest production of The Birds and The Bees.
Set in the upstairs of a farmhouse, the hilarious comedy centres around the story of Sarah, who is going through a divorce and returns to live with her mother Gail, who’s a beekeeper.
The Birds and the Bees does prove to be a double entendre as the comedy features some adult subject matter, but that keeps the audience roaring with laughter.
The play was written by Canadian playwright and actor Mark Crawford and premiered at the Blyth Festival in Ontario in June 2016 and is one of the most widely-produced new Canadian plays of the 2010s.
Miracle Theatre’s production is also expertly acted by the four-person cast.
Frances Flanagan who plays the beekeeper Gail, began her stage career at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and has a long list of film and television credits that includes roles on networks like CBC, ABC and NBC.
Gail’s daughter Sarah is played by actor, writer and opera director Dana Fradkin. She also has a lengthy list of stage, television and film credits including Reign, First Light and Unleashed.
Wally Mackinnon, who plays the neighbour Earl, is an award-winning actor who has a career spanning over 30 years in theatre productions across Canada.
Vancouver-based actor Daniel Bristol, who plays bee researcher Ben, made his Prince George stage debut with this production, and is committed to going the extra mile to make the audience laugh.
The play not only aims to delight audiences, but to raise money for charity.
Miracle Theatre, run by producer Anne Laughlin and director Ted Price, hosts a production each year to raise money for local non-profits and charities.
Last year, the very successful production of Halfway There raised over $84,000 for Prince George children’s charities during its run.
The money raised is also going the extra mile because the Prince George Community Foundation (PGCF) established the Children of Prince George Fund.
The investment and interest income from The Children’s Fund, under the trusteeship of the PGCF, is dispersed annually to Prince George charities that help the development and well-being of children.
Miracle Theatre hopes to raise enough from this year’s production of The Birds and The Bees to allow the Children of Prince George Fund to eclipse $150,000.
The play is currently running until March 4 at ArtSpace above Books and Company.
Owen Lubbers, owner of Books and Company, has donated the space which has been completely transformed into a professional stage with expert set design to look just like a farmhouse, complete with the installation of a stage and tiered seating.
Tickets for the remaining productions are $34 and are available at Books and Company (1685 3 Ave).
