Inglewood Schoolhouse Performers bringing sci-fi farce “Above and Beyond” to the stage

By Zachary Roman

What if your local bookshop was run by aliens? And what if it was actually just a front for an alien hotel?

“Above and Beyond”, the Inglewood Schoolhouse Performers' latest production, will answer these questions and more in comedic fashion.

Kathie Maloney, who is directing the play, said when she began to read the script for Above and Beyond she was soon laughing. She had always wanted to bring a Sci-Fi farce to life on the stage, and knew Above and Beyond would be the perfect fit for the Schoolhouse Performers.

Maloney has been involved with the performers for over 30 years and was actually neighbours with the founder of the performers, Paddy Thomas. Maloney first got involved by helping with props, then began acting before eventually becoming a director.

Above and Beyond sees Mortimer and Philomena (who are aliens) run an alien hotel (disguised as a bookshop) with their teenage daughter Alexus. However, there are some “Men in Black” who are trying to suss out what's really going on at the “bookshop”.

“It makes for a good situational comedy, it's very funny,” said Maloney.

The performances of Above and Beyond are going to be very special for the Inglewood Schoolhouse Performers. They actually had the play all ready to go right before the first pandemic lockdowns hit in 2020; cmmunity centres got closed down right before the performers' dress rehearsal for the play that year.

“For three years we couldn't put on a play, and this play was ready to go,” said Maloney. “Our stage was left at the community centre all these years.”

During the pandemic, some actors in the play moved away, and some new actors had to be found when it came time to rehearse for the play again. Maloney said it's been a delight getting the play ready to go for a second time.

“It's been very, very, very wonderful working with this group of people,” said Maloney. 

Maloney said her favourite part about directing is building a play up from nothing to the point where it's a polished product and all the actors are having a good time.

“It's hard work to put a play on, hard work for everybody,” said Maloney. “[When] everybody's on stage and you can tell they're having fun, I think that's what the best part is.”

There are many chances to see a performance of Above and Beyond. Performances will be held at the Inglewood Community Centre on the following dates at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30): March 17, 18, 24, 31, and April 1. Tickets for these shows are $20 and can be purchased by emailing inglewoodperformers@hotmail.com or visiting the Lost Bear Market or Riverdale Fitness Mill.

There will also be a special dinner theatre on March 25 at Inglewood United Church. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. there with the performance happening after at the community centre. Tickets for the dinner theatre are $40 and can be purchased the same way as the other tickets. All proceeds from the dinner theatre go to Knox United Church.

Maloney said there's lots of talk of the play around Inglewood and that people will be coming to see it from out of town as well. There's going to be free popcorn and drinks at the performances for guests to enjoy.

“It's a really enjoyable evening,” said Maloney. “It's a community thing.”