By Dan Archer
The Rotary Club of Assiniboia and Popcorn Productions presented the play, Nana’s Naughty Knickers – a comedy written by Los Angeles-based writer, Katherine DiSavino. This theatrical presentation ran at the Conexus Community Auditorium from November 23-25. Local actors, including Adine Stang, Brandon Welder, Leanna Batty and Carol White, performed in this play with mischievous undertones. There’s actually nothing ex-rated in this play, however the overall theme of Nana’s Naughty Knickers is definitely aimed towards an adult audience.
Here’s the premise of Nana’s Naughty Knickers: Bridget, played by Adine Stang, is about to become roommates with her grandmother in New York, who is played by Carol White. Bridget was looking forward to rooming with her favourite grandmother, until she discovers some uncomfortable truths about her elderly relative’s side business. Bridget’s grandmother has been earning extra coin byrunning an illegal boutique from her apartment, selling handmade naughty knickers to senior citizens living within the five-borough area of New York. Tension develops when her grandmother faces a possible eviction, as well as a probable run-in with the law.
Overall – considering this is amateur theatre – some of the actors in this play seemed like born naturals on stage. In particular, Carol White was fluid and quite believable as Sylvia Charles, the grandmother selling black market undergarments. Leanna Batty, who played Vera Walters – an elderly friend of Sylvia’s – also played a credible role, as she strolled over the stage with a walker and uttered wisecracks. On occasion, there were some awkward silences with dialogue delivery, but during much of the play, the actors clearly annunciated their lines with genuine bravado. Finally, the set built by Mike Giradin and designed by Denise Broda had the genuine look of an urban apartment – even featuring hidden compartments throughout the home to store Sylvia’s illicit negligees from prying eyes.
