By Laura Murton
When you buy a ticket to see Finbarr’s Final Fling, make sure you know what kind of night you’re in for.
Arts Court and the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama are producing an exciting interactive dinner theatre for the second year in a row.
Last year, the production was so successful, organizers were eager to work on Finbarr’s Final Fling.
Natalie Stern, artistic director at the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama, and co-producer of Finbarr’s Final Fling says interactive theatre production is not a typical night at the theatre.
The evening is based on the story of Finbarr, an Irishman who wins the lottery, but dies before he gets to spend his $15 million.
“A ticket takes you to an Irish wake for Finbarr, a dinner and a dance, ” says Stern.
The play is scripted, but the audience can expect to interact with the actors and to improvise along with them while eating their dinner.
Stern says the show becomes particularly interesting as the audience and actors compete for some of the cash by participating in challenges set out by Finbarr’s will.
The show pokes fun at greedy family members who show up at wakes, simply in hopes of a hefty handout of cash or property.
“People just seem to come out of the woodwork,” says Stern.
Scott Florence, an Ottawa resident, is directing the production. He says he hopes people are not turned off by the idea of attending a wake.
“It’s not an ordinary wake. There’s nothing off-putting about an Irish wake,” says Florence.
In addition to jumping around in potato sack contests, audience members can also expect to learn to play the pennywhistle and maybe even have a dance with one of the actors.
“As an audience member, you can decide your level of involvement…but I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to be involved in all the fun,” says Florence.
Last spring, Arts Court and the School of Speech and Drama introduced a production called ‘Tina and Tony’s Wedding.’
For that show, audience members got to attend an Italian wedding complete with a dinner and dance.
Barbara Crook, a former theatre critic for the Vancouver Sun and the Ottawa Citizen, who is now an independent theatre producer, attended Tina and Tony’s Wedding more than once. Crook says that although an evening at an interactive theatre is amusing and exciting, it is more about entertainment than about art.
“Don’t expect life-changing drama,” says Crook.
Crook says interactive productions like Tina and Tony’s Wedding, and Finbarr’s Final Fling are important because they teach audiences “theatre isn’t just what happens in a building called a theatre.” Crook also remarks how each evening is different and special in its own way. Each night the audience dynamic changes the production, and Crook says that’s what makes interactive theatre so exciting.
Linda Balduzzi, Arts Court executive director and co-producer of ‘Finbarr’s Final Fling’ says she is confident that both the audience and the actors are in for an uproarious, entertaining evening.
“It should be a celebration of Finbarr’s life and the things he enjoyed,” says Balduzzi.
The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $40,000. Tickets are $100 with a $50 tax-deductible receipt.
All profits will go towards programming.
The show runs March 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 and 25. Tickets are available at Arts Court box office at 569-4821.