It had been a little while since I last settled into my seat at Stage West, and this return visit reminded me exactly why dinner theatre remains such a beloved part of the Calgary-area arts scene. In a season where many of us could use a genuine, unfiltered laugh, Who’s Under Where? arrives like a perfectly timed punchline and delivers an evening that is equal parts culinary treat and comic triumph.
As always, the experience begins with the renowned Stage West buffet. While I had already eaten, my guest dove in with enthusiasm and reported back with glowing praise—particularly for the breaded shrimp—and the dessert selection alone was enough to turn heads across the room. It’s a small detail, perhaps, but it sets the mood: this is an evening built around enjoyment.
The play itself unfolds inside a luxurious hotel suite, where business partners Jan and Sybil are preparing for the meeting of their careers. They’ve designed a lingerie line and are hoping to land a five-million-dollar deal with the flamboyant and fashion-forward Bruno Fruferelli. What begins as a high-stakes pitch quickly transforms into a high-speed farce when their suspicious husbands arrive, leap to the worst possible conclusions, and set about trying to uncover what they believe must be a scandal.
From that point forward, the show becomes a beautifully choreographed whirlwind of slamming doors, mistaken identities, quick-change disguises, balcony escapes and perfectly executed near-misses. The script provides the spark, but it is the cast’s impeccable comic timing that keeps the engine roaring. The characters’ timing within the story couldn’t be worse, and that’s exactly what makes the actors’ timing so impressive. Every line lands. Every physical gag hits. Every pause is measured to perfection.
The ensemble works as a true company, and it would be impossible—and unfair—to single out one performer over another. Whether it’s the jealous husbands spiralling into ever more elaborate antics, the exuberant security officer determined to maintain order, the endlessly posing male model, or the larger-than-life designer himself, each character adds another layer to the escalating chaos.
What makes this production especially effective is its pace. It never stalls. The laughs are constant, generous and genuine, rolling through the theatre in waves that remind you how joyful live performance can be when everything clicks.
For audiences in Chestermere and the surrounding region looking for an easy night out, Stage West continues to offer a destination-worthy experience just a short drive away. Dinner theatre has always been about more than the meal or the show alone—it’s about the shared experience—and Who’s Under Where? delivers that in abundance.
If this production were a chocolate chip cookie, every bite would be loaded. No filler, no slow spots—just rich, satisfying comedy from beginning to end.
In short, if you need a reason to step away from the winter routine, stop scrolling and start laughing, this is it.
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