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Melodrama by Creston's Footlighters promises evening of fun and laughter

Footlighters Theatre Society opening 21st season with "The Great Ice Cream Scheme", running July 9-11...
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(From left) Jennifer Adams

“You do not want to miss it,” director Jason Smith says about The Great Ice Cream Scheme. “That’s what I’m telling everyone. The cast is sensational!”

And featuring the likes of Town of Creston Coun. Kevin Boehmer in a starring role, it doesn’t sound like an exaggeration, especially with the long history Creston’s Footlighters Theatre Society has with staging melodramas in the summer.

Boehmer plays the handsome hero Robin Baskins, who has to save the local ice cream shop when a plot unfolds to steal the secret recipe for the best durn ice cream in the region, or maybe the entire world. But he has his work cut out with the dastardly villain I.C. Custard (played by music teacher Peter Simon), a cold-hearted villain if there ever was one, behind the plot. With the gorgeous, if a little klutzy, Parfait DeLuxe (Jennifer Adams) at his side, it seems like I.C. Custard’s plan to steal the recipe and turn it into a mass-produced concoction that will be sold across the country is sure to succeed.

Written for a cast of 11, this version includes a couple of extra characters who compete for the audience’s attention at the side of the stage.

“Anyone who remembers the Laugh-In television show is going to love Kelly and Debra Mehrer as the Dirty Old Man and the Spinster,” said assistant director Gillian Wells. “They have been cracking up the cast in rehearsals, which have been great fun — actors keep coming up with new lines for their characters. If they had their way, the show would be three hours long!”

It won’t happen of course, but with local talents like Suzanne Chubb (Nana Peel), Jordan Koop (Ernie), Trevor Marzke (Walt Nutz) and even Disney theme park performer Derek Kemle (playing, uh, Candy Sprinkles!) the action promises to be fast and funny.

“Need a female role done right? Cast Derek Kemle!” Smith said.

Also in the cast are Natasha Sundby (Etta Lotta Spumoni), Nathan World (Alec de Spoon), Gary Atha (Pop Sicle) and Zoe Marini (Marsha Mallow).

“Special credit to our fabulous costume designer, Carla Simon,” Wells said. “She has been incredible to work with. Her bright, colourful costumes go perfectly with the beautiful set that has been created for this show.”

Set in the early 1900s, this version of The Great Ice Cream Scheme includes the addition of five musical numbers to allow characters to show off their singing chops.

“I would describe this show as a very outrageous comedy for the entire family,” Wells said.

The Great Ice Cream Scheme will be presented at Prince Charles Theatre July 9-11, the first production in a season that includes Shakespeare in the Park (Aug. 20-22), Nana’s Naughty Knickers (Dec. 3-5) and Other Desert Cities (March 16-18). Tickets are available at Black Bear Books, Kingfisher Used Books and Creative Fix.

Real Food Cafe will be offering a special dinner menu for the run of the play, and customers at Tim’s Fish and Chips and Happy Trails ice cream shop can enter to win tickets when they make a purchase.