In the spirit of Halloween, Halifax Theatre for Young People will be performing a comical family play, The Monster Under the Bed, at Alderney Landing later this month.
The story is about a boy named Ben, whose father, a soldier, gives him a pair of binoculars before going off to war. When Ben's friend Vince takes them, Ben attempts revenge by swapping places with the monster who lives under his bed.
Although geared for children, actor Christian Murray, who plays the father monster, said adults will enjoy it too.
"The story has some really fun comedy bits," said Murray. "Thematically, the story is about facing fears, so there's a nice payoff for the parents."
He said the play is geared for kids age five and up.
Actor Simon Henderson, who plays Ben, said it's a different, but great role to play.
"My character is eight, and I'm 36. There's a chance to do things that you don't get to do with other roles. We played war at one point ... When kids play, they really play."
Halifax Theatre for Young People offers a regular season and performs one main stage production at Alderney Landing each fall. They also partner with Eastern Front to present a festival of theatre for young people, as part of their SuperNova Festival in the spring.
Play director Tessa Mendel said their use of great actors, along with innovative design concepts, helps create theatrical magic that children really respond to.
"Kids have been excited to experience stories with depth that are done with a lot of attention to production values," said Mendel. "Over the past four years our plays have included ghost scenes, sword fights, magic, and now flying scenes and monster chases."
The Monster Under the Bed (written by Kevin Dyer) is presented in association with the Bluenose Ghosts Festival at the Alderney Landing Theatre Oct. 19-26. Tickets are $10 for children, $15 for adults, and $40 for a family of four. Tickets are available online at Ticketpro.ca, call 1-888-311-9090. For more information, check out halifaxtheatreforyoungpeople.com
lmckay@hfxnews.ca
