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A new Canadian comedy is set to make its world premiere at Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover, and playwright Ephraim Ellis hopes audiences are ready for plenty of laughs.
Ellis, a Toronto-based playwright and actor, is returning to Lighthouse with his latest production, ‘Secret Service’, an action-comedy farce that combines undercover espionage with the chaos of restaurant life.
Ellis said the idea grew from his love of spy films. “The original seed of the idea was that I’m a huge James Bond and Mission Impossible fan,” he said, noting that undercover agents in those movies always seem to pose as important or high-profile people.
Describing the story, Ellis said, the play follows a team of Mission Impossible-style spies who take over a high-end restaurant for a sting operation, only to have their plans disrupted.
This creates a series of misunderstandings and comic situations.
Lighthouse Festival Theatre previously featured a reading of ‘Secret Service’ through its Playwrights Festival, something Ellis said helped develop the comedy.
While excited for opening night, Ellis admits there are always some nerves when presenting a comedy.
The world premiere of ‘Secret Service’ promises a mix of action, humour and uniquely Canadian charm for Lighthouse Festival Theatre audiences this summer. The production runs from July 8 to July 25.
Written by Jeremy Hall
