Armed with a copy of Sex for Dummies, Prince George’s favourite empty nesters are looking to put some sizzle back into the bedroom – and what a bedroom it is.
Theatre NorthWest presents Sexy Laundry, a play by Michele Riml, from Feb. 15 to March 16.
Starring in the roles of Alice and Henry are real-life couple from Wells, Julia Mackey and Dirk van Stralen.
There are a couple of parallels between the real couple and the made-up one – each are celebrating 25 years together and they still love each other.
But Mackey said that’s where the list of things they have in common end and that’s what makes it fun to play her character, especially.
“We are very different from Alice and Henry,” Mackey said. “But it’s really great to be able to be on stage again after so many years. We haven’t done a play together for 20 years.”
Mackey and van Stralen help manage the Sunset Theatre in Wells together and have presented several productions there over the years.
Mackey said for her character, Alice, romance is a big deal and she’s always reading about the latest trends that she feels she has to keep up with. Mackey, not so much.
“Alice is the type of woman who really wants Henry to romance her and surprise her in different ways,” Mackey said. “And it comes up in the story that she’s really disappointed that he doesn’t do that and he’s not that kind of person – Henry has a line in the play – ‘you married an engineer, Alice, not a poet’- and I think that really solidifies what Alice wishes that she had in Henry.”
Mackey said people who attend the play, whether they are dating or married, will most likely see little pieces of themselves in Henry and Alice and be rooting for them as the story ebbs and flows.
There are poignant scenes that slip into slapstick comedy as wardrobe malfunctions take place in the over-the-top pink bed that might just stop audience members in their tracks when they first walk into the theatre.
And as for Henry?
He’s perfectly content with their peaceful, predictable marriage and doesn’t understand why Alice wants to change something that works just fine.
In van Stralen and Mackey’s relationship, they seem to be on the same page most often with little conflict, van Stralen said.
“It’s a really fun play for anyone whose been in a relationship for a year or 25, 50 years,” Mackey said.
“There’s a lot of things people will be able to relate to. It’s a really beautiful play.”
Theatre NorthWest last presented the play in 2009 and brought it back to help celebrate their Magic and Mystery season.
Tickets are available at Theatre NorthWest Sexy Laundry tickets.
