Texada Island’s Rock Island Players will send audiences back to the innocence of 1955 America with Bus Stop, a romantic comedy by William Inge.
Eight unique characters are forced together in a roadside diner while their bus waits out a Kansas snowstorm. Like a fly on the wall, the audience watches as the characters’ stories come to life, revealed slowly and surely like layers peeling away from an onion.
From the “secret” tryst between bus driver Carl and cafe owner Grace to cowboy Bo’s aggressive courting of bar singer Cherie, this endearing, though deceptively simple, comedy has heart, compassion, wisdom and loads of laughs.
Bus Stop ran for 478 performances on Broadway in 1955 before a “Hollywood-ized” movie version promoting Marilyn Monroe was released a year later. Rock Island Players’ version of Bus Stop is the original and features some new members of the acting company as well as veterans.
Performances take place at 7 pm on Thursday, May 30, Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at Texada Island Community Hall in Gillies Bay. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and tickets are available at the door for $10, with seniors and students $7.
“Join us for an insightful and soul-stirring evening filled with magical warmth and humour as we present this award-winning classic,” said director Peter Lock. Lock notes that audiences should be aware the story includes mature themes. Powell River patrons can take the 5:40 pm Texada ferry and return home on the 10:10 pm sailing. For more information readers can call Lock at 604.486.7670.
