An Evening With the Heaven’s Gate Singers. Photo credit: Fiddle Dee Dee Productions
An Evening With The Heaven’s Gate Singers
August 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21 at Venue #2: Big Rock Backstage Theatre
More information: http://www.jpfournier.com
An interview with Trent Wilkie.
Describe your show in five words.
Two priests go on tour.
Okay, now that we’re intrigued… what’s the longer description?
Due to a chance encounter, Father Bob and Father Delghetti decide that singing together is a great way to bring people together. With the help of unscrupulous Stu Middleman, they bring the miracle of song to prisons, comedy clubs and dancing competitions.
What are some of the odd places Father Bob and Father Delgheti end up performing in An Evening with the Heaven’s Gate Singers?
A prison, I think is the most interesting. They are supposed to do some Johhny Cash songs, but things don’t go as planned. Mostly because they don’t know any Johnny Cash songs.
What are the sources of humour you draw from in An Evening with the Heaven’s Gate Singers?
It’s your classic straight man/goofy man schtick, but with a bit more depth. We stay away from the obvious jokes and focus more on two guys who are trying to make the world a better place. One is midly socially inept and the other is very pragmatic. Throw in the greasy Stu Middleman manager and well, it just goes from there.
It seems like An Evening with the Heaven’s Gate Singers is a commentary on the entertainment industry in some ways. What were you interested in exploring with this show?
It is that, but it’s also a commentary on those who want to entertain and what their motivation is. Some want money, some want notoriety, some want the attention. Right off the bat Bob and Delghetti point out that they are donating all their makings to charity. They just want to have fun and prove themselves. Also, they want you to know that priests can be cool. Cool and weird.
Anything else you want audiences to know about the show?
Like any good story, this one is not what it seems. The ending is complex and validates the beginning. I’m not saying that you won’t get the play if you don’t see the whole thing, but the play is a whole thing meaning that the end justifies the beginning. Basically, it all makes sense in the end.
The 35th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is August 11 – 21. Get your tickets at tickets.fringetheatre.ca.