A message from Jeff Haslam


I have been a fan of Stewart Lemoine’s for many years. When I first graduated from the acting program at the U of A I was unsure about where I might make a career in the theatre. Then, at the Fringe of 1986, my
former classmate Davina Stewart got me a ticket to see her in a big hit by a local writer. The writer of course was Mr. Lemoine, and the play was Cocktails at Pam’s. The show was being performed at the Varscona and I got the last seat available – way over in the farthest corner by the exit sign. My view of the stage was only a little better than my view of the audience, and as great a time as I was having I couldn’t help noticing them. People were laughing so hysterically they were bending at the waist and sort of falling about uncontrollably like a great field of wheat in a hurricane.


Needless to say I remained in Edmonton and shortly afterward I joined a troupe whose entire mandate is to bring that kind of a party to all of you four times a year. And now with Teatro’s Artistic Associates Davina Stewart, Leona Brausen, Sheri Somerville, Ron Pederson, Andrew MacDonald-Smith and of course Stewart Lemoine, I get to run it.


The first order for me was to bring Teatro back to the summer where we started out. So we will be performing from May to October. I also wanted to continue an initiative that we began last year by bringing brand new comedies written by some of our funniest Teatro pals to the Varscona stage, so the delicious Belinda Cornish is concocting antics to close our season. To open, I wanted to return to one of the first of Stewart’s shows I appeared in, his hilarious little 20’s musical What Gives? with an all new cast, all new arrangements, and an all new opener: Revenge of the South Sea Bubble to be directed by Davina Stewart. In between these two is the true pith of summer 2008… a return to the great big party show we all first fell in love with Teatro for, and a return to the Fringe Festival where the whole thing began in the first place.


I’m thrilled to have this job and I know it will indeed be a riot of fun. Many of you have asked if I will continue to act in our plays and I can tell you unequivocally yes, indeed, and you betcha. In fact Teatro at the Varscona is likely your only chance to see me on stage in the coming years with rare exceptions. We hope you’ll subscribe to these shows and make Teatro part of your spring, summer, and fall. Join us!