WeedLube…a slippery slope is back by popular demand at the Forest Bistro and Lounge next month.
Written in 2020 by Stephanie Miller, Stephen Miller and Barb Oliver, the beautifully lit and staged original theatrical comedy addresses age-old issues along with very modern subjects, such as Canada’s cannabis legalization.The play took two and a half years to write, mainly over Zoom.
“The idea came from a personal story we heard from a friend,” said Stephen. “We took that seed of an idea and came up with something that would be a lot of fun, but at the same time we wanted to expand it into something more meaningful.”
The comedy playfully delves into themes of transition, intertwining the transition women go through during menopause, and the transition from marijuana going from illegal to a legally bought and sold substance in Canada.
“You know comedy is deadly serious, if you really examine it,” said Stephanie. “What better way to explore complicated issues than through comedy, and be able to laugh at ourselves.”
The set is intimate, the actors professional, and the show itself is “reminiscent of a long ago television show from the 1980s, Laverne and Shirley,” said Stephen. “For some of the audience they want comedy, but for some they hear the other part about menopause and they focus on that.”
Stephanie added that menopause affects everybody.
“Some people will stop us on the street and say, ‘I’m going through all that,’” said Stephanie, who thinks there is a lot of shaming going on when it comes to the topic.
“Why not talk about it in a way that uncovers something that is usually shrouded by mystery, but in a funny way,” she added.
Last October, WeedLube played to a sold-out audience every night.
“When you write comedy, you always question whether the audience will find it funny,” explained Stephen. “We didn’t know if anyone would laugh; that’s our biggest fear.”
At the time, people were still transitioning from not going out because of COVID-19, to yearning to be with others in public.
“It was so joyful to actually have this community event, a communal experience,” said Stephanie. “The audience is so much part of the play and to perform it for the first time for a live audience was a wonderful journey.”
The two main characters, played by Barb Oliver and Stephanie, are caught in-between the changes of both menopause and cannabis legalization.
“That for us, was a fun thing to explore, transition periods are a strange time,” said Stephanie.
Another theme the audience connected with was the idea that as we age, society is quite ageist.
“There is this transition that’s so nuanced, all of a sudden one day you say to yourself, ‘I am invisible,’” said Stephanie. “This is another theme we tried to weave into the story.”
Although the themes are a serious matter, the Millers want the audience to have a laugh.
Stephanie emphasizes that “the whole evening is entertainment, tapas and spectacle.”
WeedLube…a slippery slope runs from March 2 to 4 at 7 pm nightly. Tickets are available at Forest Bistro and Base Camp.
