In the News: Swamp Rat Experience's inaugural production of 'Suite Surrender' opens at Keyano Theatre (Fort McMurray Today)

Apr 9

By Laura Beamish Publishing date: Mar 10, 2022

Swamp Rat Experience, Fort McMurray’s newest theatre company, is performing its inaugural production this weekend at Keyano Recital Theatre.

When co-founders Hanna Fridhed-Campbell and Zenon Campbell started the theatre company last year, they were not sure how they would be welcomed. But Fridhed-Campbell said the response has been a welcoming one, and a strong turnout for auditions and production showed a vibrant interest in local theatre.

“It’s always so refreshing to see new faces and to see what new people bring,” she said. “The more people get to have the theatre experience, the better it is for everyone… There’s always going to be competition for parts, and in Fort McMurray for space, but the more the merrier.”

The company’s first performance is Michael McKeever’s Suite Surrender, which runs until March 12.

Suite Surrender is set in 1942. Two feuding Hollywood divas arrive at the Palm Beach Royale Hotel to perform a USO show and end up being assigned to the same suite.

“Honestly, we need a good laugh right now more than anything and this show is it,” said Fridhed-Campbell. “I’m just really excited for people to come in and leave all the worries and stress and tense shoulders outside for 90 minutes, sit back and just laugh. That’s what you’re going to get with this.”

The show has elements of a classic farce, including quick entrances and exits, mistaken identities, as well as a lot of quick wit and humour. But the production, originally published in 2011, discards stereotypes used in a lot of older farces, such as racism and homophobia.

“The characters are so funny and they are one-dimensional enough to be funny, but they’re also multi-dimensional enough to be interesting,” said Fridhed-Campbell.

“This is going to be probably the best 90 minutes you’ve had this week,” said Fridhed-Campbell. “You’d be surprised how much you’ll enjoy it.”

Read the article HERE.