‘Happy Days’ are here next week
By Chris Brown on October 27, 2018.
cbrown@medicinehatnews.comTwtitter: MHNBrown Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Happy Days. That’s not exactly how the song from the hit TV show goes, but those are the days of the first three performances of Firehall Theatre’s “Happy Days” next week. “It sounded like (a play) that everybody would remember and like to come see,” said director Deb Hoefling this week. The musical features many of the characters from the show that ran from 1974-84 and starred Henry Winkler, Ron Howard and others. In the play a developer plans to turn the popular hangout Arnold’s into a mall. The Fonz, Richie, Ralph,, Potsie and more put together a dance contest and wrestling to save the malt shop from demolition. Most of the cast members weren’t even born when “Happy Days” ruled the airwaves, says Hoefling. That’s not stopping them from getting fully into the spirit of the show. “They’re learning how to jive, wearing poodle skirts, riding motorcycles has kicked in with them and they’re having a good time,” the director said, adding their energy is rubbing off on the older cast members and herself. “The older folks in the show are getting a lot of energy from the young ones; they have more energy in one finger than I have in my whole body.” Hoefling said Quintin Getz, as The Fonz, has done a lot of research to each thumbs up and “aaay” and “whoa” just right. The show runs Nov. 2-4 and 8-10 at the Karen Cunningham Theatre at Medicine Hat High School. Show time is 7 p.m. Nov. 2, 3 and 8-10, and 2 p.m.on Nov. 4. More information is available at firehalltheatre.ca. Tickets are available at eventbrite.ca. 12
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