The Lakeside Players' BEMUSED Opens 4/30

The screwball comedy Bemused which had its world premiere last year at Theatre North West in British Columbia will make audiences roar with laughter again in Ottawa in a new production presented by The Lakeside Players. The show is written by Peter Fenton (The Giant's Garden) and Scott White (Top Gun! The Musical).

The Ottawa production is directed by Cathy Dowsett and Harold Swaffield. The cast includes: Vanessa Cook, Lindsay Dowsett, Ann Empey, Sarah Eygenstein, Don Fex, Bill Horsman,Chris Lucas and Brenda Solman.

Bemused tells the story of George and Carol Walcott, a young song-writing couple from Madison Wisconsin who have one dream: to leave the penny ante jingle-writing business of
the 1940s far behind and become successful writers for the Broadway stage. Fate comes
calling when noted producers Arthur Green and Iris Langdon hear the Walcott's only hit song "Tipsy In Poughkeepsie" on the radio, and hire them to "fix" the music of their Broadway-bound musical "Bonita Goes Bananas" after a disastrous out of town trial.

But George and Carol discover that getting a show to Broadway isn't all that easy, as they learn about the fickle nature of creativity and the courage it takes to achieve one's dreams. Along the way they are helped by a stow-away child, a 73 year old tap dancing bellhop, a chambermaid with a special gift, and a run-away skunk. But will they finish the show before Cole Porter gets back and discovers that they are squatting in his New York suite?

This screwball comedy is filled with music, absurd sight gags and a lot of heart.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Lead Performer in a Play - Top 3

1. Daniel Radcliffe - Every Brilliant Thing

29.5% of votes

2. Nathan Lane - Death of a Salesman

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3. Ayo Edebiri - Proof

6.7% of votes

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