Hinton’s Break-A-Leg Theatre will be presenting Aspirin and Elephants by Jerry Mayer at a dinner theatre from March 16 to 19. 

The performance will feature six local actors in a romantic comedy sure to keep the audience entertained for the whole evening. 

The theatre takes place on a Norwegian Cruise Line, where two parents have gone on a cruise with their older daughters and their husbands. The plot follows the couples as they find their marriages tested throughout the unpredictable laugh-out-loud comedy. 

It’s been three years since Break-A-Leg presented a dinner theatre due to a lack of venue. This year, the popular event has been brought back to the old IGA building. Break-A-Leg has been hard at work to construct a stage, seating and set to present to Hintonites, and anyone passing through. 

Aspirin and Elephants is written by Mayer, who is famous for writing episodes of M*A*S*H*, Bewitched and All in the Family. 

Don Engerdahl, founding member and artistic director of Break-A-Leg said the production will be a step away from previous dinner theatres. 

“It’s a little racier than what we’re used to doing.” he said. 

The play will feature some strong language and adult situations, and it is a performance to leave the kids at home for, as minors will not be allowed at the licensed event.

The dinner theatre will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails until 7 p.m., when dinner will be served buffet-style. At 8 p.m. the show will start and be performed in two acts. Tickets are going fast. The Friday night performance is almost sold out, with the other nights closing in. Engerdahl is encouraged by the ticket sales so far, saying that Hinton has been without live theatre for too long. 

“They’ve been starving of it for a long time,” he said. 

The night will have assigned seating that guests can choose ahead of time, so everybody sits with who they wish. 

Engerdahl said that out of the six actors, five are new to the stage in Hinton. The group has worked together well to pull off a great performance. 

“They’ve come together as quite a unified group of performers,” he said. 

Featuring local actors is a great draw for Hintonites. Engerdahl said that the audience members like to see co-workers or friends up on stage.

Break-A-Leg Theatre is celebrating its 15th year in 2011. Over that time they have put on 35 dinner theatres, musicals, reviews and more. To celebrate, the company has a few productions in the works, with the possibility of a musical towards the end of the year. Engerdahl said they are also in talks to have a performance ready for the 2012 edition of Jasper in January. The group has travelled to Jasper once before to host a fundraiser. Engerdahl said it’s great to be able to travel to Jasper, when theatre groups out of Edmonton can charge thousands of dollars for a one-night-only performance. 

“We were treated really nicely when we were there,” Engerdahl said. “It was like we were royalty – and we’re not.”

Usually Break-A-Leg puts on two performances a year, or one if it is a bigger production. Each dinner theatre takes about three to four months to plan. 

Because there hasn’t been a venue available, Break-A-Leg has been some what stymied in their productions. Engerdahl said they’ve had to get creative, such as the former IGA space, where everything has had to be constructed. 

“It is a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding,” he said. “We’re in the job to provide experiences. We want people to laugh cry, and enjoy.”