Curtain to rise on A Thousand Clowns

John O'Connor Photo

A Thousand Clowns director Mil Juricic works with Lin Sherwood and Brian Snee in rehearsal last week.

Merritt’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch hall is undergoing some minor construction work but it isn’t for renovations.

The hall is being prepared for four days of Jim Bruce’s rendition of theatrical production A Thousand Clowns, to be played out by some of Merritt’s best actors Jan. 25.

“It’s a very challenging play but they’re doing well with it,” says Bruce, the show’s producer and actor.

Bruce took over the role of Albert Munson after actor Rollie Woods pulled out from the play due to schedule conflicts.

The loss also contributed to the play’s postponement, originally scheduled to premier in December.

Bruce says his group has most of the props and stage equipment they need but says they could use some volunteer labour help.

“Lights are already up and ready,” says Bruce.

Although the show doesn’t start for another four days, the crew has been rehearsing almost daily at the Legion since the postponement.

A Thousand Clowns, a Merritt Live Theatre Society production, will go ahead with the main character, Murray Burns, played by Alex Grebenyuk, as well as the supporting cast played by: Sarah Hyde, Brian Snee, and Lin Sherwood.

Mil Juricic takes over as director of the show so that Bruce can dedicate more time to developing his new role as Mundson.

Bruce’s rendition of A Thousand Clowns is an adaptation of the original American theatrical, written by Herb Gardiner, but with a slight Canadian twist.

Bruce says the show is a comedy but with some very serious social issues wrapped up in it.

Burns is an unemployed television writer who lives in a crowded New York City one-bedroom apartment with his 12-year-old nephew, Nick Burns (Sherwood), the illegitimate son of Murray’s sister, Amie Burns, a Tim Horton’s worker.

Social workers are sent to the apartment after Nick’s school sends a copy of an assignment Nick wrote on the benefits of unemployment insurance.

Child Welfare Bureau investigators Sandra Markowitz (Hyde) and her supervisor and boyfriend Albert Mundson (Bruce) confront Murray and threaten to remove Nick unless Murray can prove his worth to society.

Sandra finds Murray charming and is quickly seduced. The two begin a relationship and Sandra convinces Murray to find employment.

Murray soon finds himself in an uncomfortable position. If he wishes to keep his nephew, he must discard his stubbornness and tackle his responsibilities head on.

Murray realizes that he must get a job to satisfy the welfare board and goes back to work writing jokes for a children’s television show called “Chuckles the Chipmunk,” a job he quit because of a serious dislike of the show’s host Leo Herman (Snee).

The show will start January 25 and run each night at the Legion until January 28. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. each night with the play commencing at 7:00 p.m.

Refreshments including alcoholic beverages will be available.

Tickets purchased for the December 10 show will be honoured at the Jan. 25 premier.

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