Cow Patti Theatre Company gearing up for its latest show

The talented folks at Cow Patti Theater Company prepare for more hilarity on stage with the western Canadian premiere of Norm Foster’s hit Doris and Ivy in the home.

From March 9th to April 2nd, the Tin Roof Event Center hosts performances that include nightly dinner theater and matinee brunches.

Retired prison guard Doris Mooney has just moved into the Paradise Village Nursing Home in Canmore.

She quickly befriends Ivy Hofbauer, a former alpine skier, who is surprised by Doris’ cheerful audacity. Completing the trio is the elegant Arthur Beech, who has designs for Ivy.

Love, gossip and shenanigans behind the compost heap lead to Foster showing his hilarious best, according to a synopsis.

“I think what strikes me the most about this show is that Norm wrote a play about Alberta,” said artistic director AnnaMarie Lea.

“He took three characters and placed their lives here – Doris, who has lived her entire life in Alberta and recently retired after a career as a prison guard at Drumheller.

“And then you have a very educated man who spent his career as a professor at the University of Calgary. And then there is Ivy, who came to this beautiful province like many others, but was born in Austria. She needed a fresh start and decided to move to Canada and live near the mountains because they reminded her of home,” she said.

And so, on this special day, these three characters meet in a retirement home.

“I think the beauty of this piece is that it becomes a home for all of them,” Lea said. “So it’s a story about how these three people come together and even though they’ve retired from their jobs, they’re still people who are excited about their future and want to take risks,” she explained. “By meeting each other, they definitely encourage each other to move forward.”

There are plenty of hilarious moments as the plot unfolds, but there are also conflicts and moments of poignancy.

“Norm is brilliant at putting ‘real’ people in ‘real’ situations and being really honest. And within that honesty, it allows for some really wacky humor and some relatable humor,” she said, adding that Foster’s talent for creating accessible and relatable stories is outstanding.

“Whether people are 30 or 60, they can look at this show and these people and see a little bit of themselves. And for the younger generation too, they’re reflecting on what life will be like when they’re older – so it’s definitely an all-ages show,” she said.

“It’s a show that questions what I’m willing to do or risk just to keep feeling alive. I think the characters are drawn to this place because they want to be in a place where they are with other people. Where you can feel at home. It kind of all comes together in this lovely little story.”

Ultimately, Lea wants people to walk out of every performance with a jump in their crotch.

“We’re here to entertain. But within that entertainment, it’s okay to have thought-provoking moments,” she said, adding that the cast includes Wally McKinnon, Deb Collins and Terri Cheriack, with stage management duties being handled by Eric Finlayson.

Visit www.cowpatti.com for more information about the season or to purchase tickets.