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Staring into the goldfish bowl

It’s all about theatrical debuts with the UFV Theatre production of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, which opens tonight on the Chilliwack campus.
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Gabby Bohmer and Ron Jackson in UFV’s Girl in the Goldfish Bowl.

It’s all about theatrical debuts with the UFV Theatre production of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, which opens tonight on the Chilliwack campus.

The comedy by playwright Morris Panych will be directed by UFV Theatre faculty member Joanna Redfern.

Redfern is in her directorial debut for the department with Girl in the Goldfish Bowl.

As well, three first-year theatre students will make their acting debuts, including Gabby Bohmer in the role of Iris, a precocious 10-year-old, Rebekah Briscoe is her long-suffering mother Sylvia, and Jalen Saip-Dyck is their colourful lodger, Rose.

It’s the second production of the theatre department’s 2010-11 season.

As this engaging comedy opens, we hear Iris say: “These are the last few days of my childhood.”

She’s certain the recent death of her goldfish was announced by the air-raid sirens during the days school drill. Could the spirit of her recently departed pet be re-incarnated in the form of a lost, amnesiac drifter who suddenly appears on her doorstep without warning? Iris’ parents, trapped in the nostalgic desires of their own lost youth, are oblivious to their daughter’s childhood-formed view of life. Panych’s wry humour, which permeates the action of this fascinating piece, ensures an evening of first class live entertainment.

Iris’ melancholic father, Owen, will be played by Ron Jackson, last seen as Tom Snout in UFV’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream from last March, and the role of Lawrence, the enigmatic drifter, is filled by Josh Wilson, also last seen in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Demetrius.

Set design for this production is by Evan Hutchinson, with costume design by Laura Auffrey and lighting design by Madison McArthur and Ali Shewan. Sound designer is Andrew Meadwell and Coleen Plenert is stage manager.

Girl in the Goldfish Bowl opens Friday, Jan. 21 in the Theatre on the Chilliwack campus and runs Jan. 22,27,28,29 and Feb. 3, 4 and 5 at 7.30 pm., with matinees Sunday, Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 at 2pm. and Thursday, Feb. 3 at 12: noon.

For information and reservations call: 604-795-2814 or Email: theatre@ufv.ca