Queen’s Players and audiences say “I do” in latest show.
Queen’s oldest club, Queen’s Players, held their 2024 summer show, “When Freaky Met Friday: I Now Pronounce You Liked and Subscribed” at The Mansion from July 17 to 20. The show followed the plot of a tumultuous engagement and wedding, with a revolving cast of characters, and accompanied by a live band proving the Queen’s Players experience as one of a kind.
Running for over 100 years, all proceeds from the shows go towards charitable organizations in Kingston and across Canada. Last year, Players donated approximately $20,000 to various charities, including the Indian Residential School Survivor Society, AMS Food Bank, Martha’s Table, and many others.
The show’s Director, Noah Hill described the show as akin to a Saturday Night Live (SNL) but with more music, funny skits, and a great time that involves getting progressively drunker as the night goes on.
With the summer heat ripping through at The Mansion, the audience was encouraged to buy drinks for the cast to keep them refreshed and hydrated between costume and character changes. With an extraordinary number of moving parts, the Queen’s Players put on a memorable show that involved, acting, singing, dancing and sharp comedy that was both current, and witty.
This summer’s show was different from the ones performed previously as the showmakers wanted to maintain a continuous plot throughout the play making it easier for the audience to follow along. In contrast to previous shows where a series of distinct sketches with different characters were featured throughout the performance.
The summer show followed a young influencer who’s engaged to be married with various disruptions, from a bachelor party and dress-fittings to family drama and resurfacing past relationships. Additionally, the show incorporated elements of the digital age, featuring references to influencers’ “Get Ready with Me” videos and the constant recording of their lives.
Hill wanted the cast to experience being in a summer show and playing various characters while maintaining the continuous show with 12 characters portrayed by different players as they appeared on stage.
The show featured characters unlikely to interact anywhere else. Among others, Sid the Sloth from Ice Age, Mr. Clean, and Carrie Bradshaw shared the stage, making for a comedic and memorable performance. The standout character was Drew Barrymore and the cast was on point playing the controversy about how she converses with her guests on her talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, and the lack of personal space she has for people.
Audience participation was encouraged, with instructed to yell ‘seamless’ after an obvious line fumble, and ‘sing’ when a song title is mentioned. The cast showed off their impressive vocal range with songs between scenes, ranging from Chappell Roan, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Crazy Frog, Olivia Rodrigo and much more.
While the choice of songs is ultimately up to cast , with suggestions from the vocal and music directors the songs picked either ‘clash’ with the characters or is ‘on brand’ for them.
“A lot of the times there will be a connection between the song and the character,” Cameron Dunn, vice-president said in an interview with The Journal.
An important aspect of being a player is continuing to foster the environment that has been since the 1980s with a very inclusive and respectful space where it’s open and accepting of everyone.
“It’s a club of welcoming newcomers and making them feel like they’re a part of something greater than themselves and show them the way with some style and some fun in there, but definitely allowing for individual growth as a performer and a person,” Olivia Buchanan, co-choreographer said.
Through a very fun, silly, and chaotic but safe environment, the club is an excellent way for people to find community, she added.
The eclectic mix of witty jokes, cultural references, songs, and music made the audience feel at home, turning The Mansion into a vibrant haven where guests could truly be themselves and feel embraced as a part of a lively, extended—albeit drama-filled and chaotic—family.
With smiles all around, the Queen’s Players can rest easy knowing they fulfilled their goal of the crowd having a great time.
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