CANALSIDE PLAYERS COME BACK TO STAGE WITH CANADIAN COMEDY

SARAH QUICK'S 'KNICKERS!' IS GROUP'S FIRST SHOW SINCE COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS

Sara Stewart was looking for ideas for Canalside Players' next production when she stumbled across "Knickers!", a comedy by Canadian playwright Sarah Quick.

The theatre group, like others across Canada, had been sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic for more than two seasons. With restrictions lifted, it was finally time for the group to get back to work. It was decided that a production of the Pat Cook comedy "Backstage," that was cancelled because of COVID-19, would be replaced.

"I was looking online and came across 'Knickers!'," said Sara Stewart, who is directing and acting in the show for Canalside. "I read it and I was laughing out loud."

But other members had ideas as well and the group narrowed it down to two or three choices, Stewart said.

"I was really pushing for 'Knickers!'."

As it happens, Stewart's pick won the day.

"Knickers!" revolves around the efforts to revive the northern Ontario town of Elliston Falls after its largest employer, the local paper mill, closes. Three women hatch a plan to open a custom underwear business, including creating a giant pair of knickers as a roadside attraction.

The trio are joined by a tourism officer dispatched to the town at the behest of the provincial government to help with the situation, and that sets the stage for the laughs.

"It's a fish-out-of-water story, a revitalization story," Stewart said.

Both directing and acting can be a challenge, so Stewart has gotten some help. Jasmine Milley is codirecting while Canalside's social media manager, Abby Etling, is assisting.

Rehearsals started back in September and ramped up in January after a break over Christmas. It had been a long time that the group had been unable to work together.

"We were rusty, very rusty," Stewart said with a chuckle. "It was taking a bit for us all to get back in the groove."

Performances run over two weekends, March 24 to 26 and March 31 to April 1, at the Welland Community Centre at 145 Lincoln St. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. for all shows except for March 26, which is a matinee at 1 p.m. There will be a special gala on opening night featuring cocktails by NB Distillers and finger foods and hors d'oeuvres starting at 6 p.m.