It is a bloody first for Squamish.
The Between Shifts Theatre Society is opening its 25th season with its first blood-splattered, horror-thriller Pontypool, on from Oct. 18 to 21 at Eagle Eye Theatre.
Pontypool, written by Canadian playwright Tony Burgess, follows a radio DJ who tracks a frightening new virus as it spreads through his small town of Pontypool via language.
“Between Shifts Theatre has never really done a Halloween play,” said the production’s director Lisa Schaer, a former Howe Sound Secondary student.
“This play definitely has aspects of blood, zombie explosions – my zombie’s chest explodes – and a little bit of gore,” she said.
The play is very suspenseful and is sure to have audiences on the edge of their seats, she added.
It is a coming home of sorts for Schaer.
Not only did she attend the high school years ago, but the producer of Pontypool is Janice Carroll, who taught Schaer at Howe Sound.
“No matter where I have gone in life, I have always come back to Eagle Eye theatre,” Schaer said, adding she had worked on various productions at the theatre over the years, but this is her first time directing.
“For this play Tony Burgess so brilliantly wrote a lovely play that makes it really easy to direct because most, if not all, of my decisions are informed from the writing,” she said.
She is also working with professional and enthusiastic actors, which makes her job easier, Schaer said.
Real life Mountain FM broadcaster Darren McPeake stars as DJ Grant Mazzy.
It is McPeake’s first time acting, but Schaer said he is “a natural.”
“He has fallen into his position as an actor with great ease,” she said. “He has great instincts, is really easy to work with.”
Also in the cast is current Howe Sound Secondary student Glenn Gentil playing Nigel Healing and a French announcer.
“This kid is definitely an up-and-coming talent,” Schaer said.
Whistler’s Myrna Iaconetti-Bush plays Dr. Mendez; Janice Hayden plays radio producer Sydney Briar; Avril Hanlon is Laurel-Ann Drummond and well-known theatre favourite, Kathryn Daniels plays Kate Loney.
“I always say Kathy can be picked up and dropped into any role and you can just rely on her 100 million percent to give you what you are looking for,” Schaer said. “She is just solid gold, always.”
For tickets go to, betweenshiftstheatre.com.
