The Pearl Company Winter Theatre Festival: Jan 16 – 18 / 23 – 25
The Pearl Company Winter Theatre Festival: Jan 16 – 18 / 23 – 25: Tickets: $15 per show. All shows 7:00/8:30. Laughing at God, Sex, and Harper at The Pearl Company Winter Festival, theatre and comedy fans are in for an upbeat treat. This year’s festival features the long-awaited Hamilton debut of one of Canada’s brightest new theatre personalities Wesley Colford, producing the religious farce Genesis and Other Stories by Rosamund Small. We are also presenting the first ever Hamilton visit by Buffalo’s “Queen of Comedy” Kristen Becker with The Dykes of Hazard Comedy Hour; the return of Stephen Harper: The Musical, starring CBC radio personality James Gordon; and the first Pearl Company show by Hamilton’s own underground sketch comedy group The Ugly Stiks.
Genesis and Other Stories: Colford, artistic director of Aim For The Tangent theatre in Toronto has been garnering universal 
acclaim since the company debuted in 2012 with “Best of Fringe” and “Critic’s Choice” awards for a sold out The Wakowski Bros, a musical comedy tribute to vaudeville. Genesis and Other Stories is about pure intentions gone wrong. Christopher, a theology student, leads a misfit cast of amateur actors in a production of his late father’s play: a hyper-sexed version of Adam and Eve set in 1960’s USA. While the play turns on slapstick and satire, the comedy frames a surprisingly complex story about lonely people trying to fill roles that do not suit them.
Last year’s Toronto production of Genesis and Other Stories was widely praised: “Chaotic perfection…truly hilarious play… an absolute must see,” said Tarah Kennedy, Mooney on Theatre. Colette Shaw of The Charlebois Post simply said, “this is a brilliant, funny show. See it.”
Stephen Harper: The Musical: For those who prefer their idol worship in a more contemporary vein, who better to profile than our own “saviour” – Stephen Harper. James Gordon trades barbs with Harper as a ventriloquist’s dummy, taking the PM to task for his
“How To Survive and Thrive In The Dying Days of the Empire Of Oil”, the show is a unique multimedia presentation with original songs, reflecting Gordon’s long history of social commentary, political activism, and passion for his subject. “I think the timing is right for this innovative work,” explains Gordon, “So many Canadians are feeling that their voice is not being heard under the “Harper Government”. What can we do about this? Audiences can find out, and have a fun theatrical evening at the same time.” Gordon is a polished performer with a 30-year career as a singer-songwriter, and has recorded 40 albums to date.
The Dykes of Hazard Comedy Hour – 1 Night Only: Despite the name, The Dykes of Hazard are not all dykes, points out Kristen Becker, known as the Queen of Comedy in her hometown of Buffalo, and the driving force behind the DOH cabaret act. Straight fans 
will enjoy the show, as long as they appreciate edgy (and hysterical) humour about sex: a serving of bawdy reality topped with a slice of southern charm, as DOH’s fearless leader guides you through a great blend of stand up, sketch and burlesque. Becker has been touring her rowdy, political, personal, intelligent, and unrelentingly honest point-of-view comedy across North America for 10 years. She’s the winner of the Queen City Comedy Competition; Buffalo’s Artvoice named her the city’s Best Stand-up Comic four years running; in December 2012 she was named one of the most influential citizens of the year by Buffalo’s Spree magazine – high praise indeed for an entertainer!
The Ugly Stiks: Hamilton’s The Ugly Stiks have performed continuously for more than six years in venues around Southern 
Ontario. The 4-man, 1-woman troupe is Gabe DiFabio, Tyler Brent, Len Cain, Doug Millar and Elisha West. They are all seasoned theatre vets, who discovered a shared love for improv, which then morphed into sketch routines. Recent shows include Christmas is My Mistress; The Good, The Best and the Ugly; and Don’t Touch That – Santa’s Watching. A mix of Kids in the Hall, SCTV and Monty Python with a steel-town edge, The Ugly Stiks are a relentlessly funny and energetic event. Expect a “Best Of” show from their years together, with a few new skits.
All tickets are $15 per show. Reserve online at www.thepearlcompany.ca under the “Buy Tickets Tab”, by phone at 905-524-0606, or email at info@thepearlcompany.ca
Schedule:
Week One:
Thursday Jan. 16 7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Thursday Jan. 16 8:30 pm – Harper: The Musical: James Gordon
Friday Jan. 17 7:00 pm – Harper: The Musical: James Gordon
Friday Jan. 17 8:30 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Saturday Jan. 18 7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Saturday Jan. 18 8:30 pm – Sketch Comedy: Ugly Sticks
Week Two:
Thursday Jan. 23 7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Thursday Jan. 23 8:30 pm – Harper: The Musical: James Gordon
Friday Jan. 24 7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Friday Jan. 24 8:30 pm – Sketch Comedy: Ugly Sticks
Saturday Jan. 25 7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Saturday Jan. 25 8:30 pm – Dykes of Hazzard: Kristen Becker
