CHARLES TWEED/Ponoka News
Horatio and the entire CSI crew is coming to town as part of Diamond Willow Middle School’s production of CSI-Ponoka.
The play is written and directed by DWMS teacher Kevin Ferguson who has written 15 or 16 productions.
“I look at my drama talent coming in at the start of the year and then I try to think about what I have for talent and also trying to keep it current,” said Ferguson. “This year with CSI-Ponoka we have Justin Beaver who has run away from Miami before a contest and he has come to Ponoka to work at a Tim Hortons.”
From there CSI is sent to look for Beaver and eventually finds him in ‘Po-no-ka’ as Horatio Kane would say but not before a few twists and turns with a healthy dose of Canadiana and humor mixed in.
“Everyone eventually ends up at Tim Hortons, the local police force and the whole town is at Tims. This is where the crime unfolds and the crime gets solved,” said Ferguson.
The fact Ferguson wrote the play gives him a great deal of flexibility with the plot and he admitted changes are often made on the fly.
“When you stage them in your mind you have a good idea of how it’s going to work but when you actually set it all up sometimes things have to be changed. I always tell them to ad lib a bit,” said Ferguson.
“It’s neat and fun that it fits in with our town,” said Ian Ferguson, who plays Horatio Kane in the play.
“It was made for us and there is no one that can play us exactly the way we do,” said Kaitlin Malterer.
The play debuts on June 1 at 7 p.m. and is followed by a matinee at 2 p.m. on June 2 as well at a 7 p.m. later that day. The first performance is something the actors are both excited and nervous about.
“I think there will be more butterflies in front of the school,” said Dillon Parsons. “If you mess up you’re never going to hear the end of it.”
The shows are open to the public and the best part, they are a free of charge but Ferguson does ask patrons show up with something.
“Just bring your laughter,” he said with a big smile.