It’s condensed theatre without benefit of fancy staging or props when the One Act Play Festival returns to the Village Theatre for a three day run beginning this Friday.

Included in the festival are five entries: two from ECHO Players, an original Ballenas Secondary School entry, one from Parksville Players and another from Wilton-Broad Players out of Nanaimo.

Festival committee chair and director of the Parksville Players one act, I’m Herbert, Margaret Jenkins said the festival is slimmed down this year with fewer entries but added, “the main thing was to keep the festival alive for Peter Bendz,” the visionary behind the festival who passed away earlier this year after nearly a lifetime devoted to the thespian arts.

Of I’m Herbert, starring her husband Geoff alongside well known local actor Dori McGarrigle, Jenkins said things were surprisingly easy for her in what amounts to her debut in the director’s chair but added, “It’s a hard play for the actors. There’s a lot of back and forth so if you lose a line you’re kind of lost.

“It’s about an older couple, they’ve each been married two or three times and call each other by the names of everyone else they’ve been involved with ... the dialogue definitely is funny.”

She said the play is dedicated to Dori’s late husband, Paddy McGarrigle, who starred in the same production during an award winning presentation some years ago.

Jenkins said the festival is an unique chance for actors and audience members alike to participate in something a little different.

“It offers opportunities to people who don’t want to direct a full length play and for actors who can’t commit to be in a two hour show. For the audience the fact there’s only basic lighting and sets gives it a simplicity and they can listen in to the adjudicator’s remarks which is always interesting.”

In addition to I’m Herbert, teamed with Echo Players performance of Ledge, Ledger and the Legend on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m., the festival includes the drama Closer and Closer Apart and Ballenas’ The Cure on Saturday also at 7:30 p.m.

The festival ends Sunday, Nov. 8 with Parlour Games, an original script performed by Wilton-Broad Players followed by an awards presentation.

reporter@pqbnews.com