Knickers! - A Brief Comedy
When the paper mill in Elliston Falls closes, sending the small, rural town into an economic depression, a trio of determined, Wednesday-night weightwatchers and a newly appointed tourism officer must rally their community to save both jobs and spirits.
Their plan of creating a custom underwear business becomes the foundation of the town’s survival in this comedy that celebrates determination, entrepreneurial spirit, and the willingness to bare it all.
A story of four women banding together to help their community in times of struggle, Knickers! is distinctively Canadian but has universal themes of economic hardships, hope and friendship. They are not extraordinary women in extraordinary situations, as much as they are ordinary women who face hardships head on to better the world in which they live.
Play Reviews
“The audience is treated to a hilarious, touching and timely story about coping with tough times, entrepreneurial spirit and fighting for your community.”
“A clever and cheeky tale! Underlying the laughs is a very touching human story of small town values and resiliency”
“In brief, Knickers bares small town ‘chutzpah’”
“Knickers! is uplifting summer theatre that succeeds on multiple levels.”
“The play has the delicious gossipy attitude of ‘The Women,’ the outrageous money-making scenario of ‘Calendar Girls,’ and the hilarious climactic finale of ‘The Full Monty.’
Bring a gaggle of girlfriends and enjoy a great night of girl talk with a decidedly Canadian slant.”
“The two acts seemed to fly by in an instant as the audience jumped to its feet in a thunderous standing ovation to justly reward the actors at the final curtain call. Knickers is a “must see” for anyone wanting to put a glow of merriment on their summer.”
“The show has had great success wherever it’s played, especially in small towns where people can relate to the challenges the ladies face”
“A generous dose of Canadiana with depth and heart make for a well-knit comedy… and don’t be fooled into thinking this comedy is solely for the fairer sex. Knickers has plenty of laughs, including a few big ones, that appeal equally to both genders.”
Play Productions
Knickers! was first performed at Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon ON Canada with the following cast:
BARB - Bridget McFarthing
TERRI - Tricia Brioux
MARY - Josee Young
AMANDA - Sarah Quick
Directed by James Barrett
2007 - 2015
AUG 22, 2007 - AUG 30, 2007 — Globus Theatre Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada
JUN 01, 2009 - JUN 30, 2009 — St James Theatre Orillia, Ontario, Canada
JUL 21, 2010 - AUG 30, 2010 — Port Stanley Festival Theatre Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
FEB 01, 2012 - FEB 28, 2012 — Class Act Dinner Theatre Whitby, Ontario, Canada
JUN 12, 2013 - JUN 29, 2013 — Lighthouse Festival Theatre Port Dover, Ontario, Canada
APR 14, 2015 - APR 18, 2015 — Riccarton Players Inc Christchurch NZ, New Zealand
MAY 07, 2015 - MAY 09, 2015 — Madison Community Players, Inc. Madison, IN United States
MAY 21, 2015 - JUN 06, 2015 — South Park Theatre South Park, PA United States
2016 - 2017
APR 20, 2016 - APR 24, 2016 — Selkirk United Church Selkirk,, MB Canada
MAY 05, 2016 - MAY 14, 2016 — Aylmer Community Theatre Aylmer, ON Canada
JUN 17, 2016 - JUN 17, 2016 — Stouffville Theatre Company Stouffville, ON Canada
DEC 02, 2016 - DEC 03, 2016 — Bulyea Community Theater Bulyea, SK Canada
MAR 23, 2017 - MAR 24, 2017 — The Carol Players Labrador City, NF Canada
MAR 31, 2017 - APR 08, 2017 — Vagabond Theatre Of Cornwall Inc Cornwall, ON Canada
APR 01, 2017 - APR 30, 2017 — The Carol Players Labrador City, NF Canada
OCT 13, 2017 - OCT 22, 2017 — Thibodaux Playhouse, Inc. THIBODAUX, LA United States
2018 - 2022
JUL 05, 2018 - JUL 29, 2018 — Upper Canada Playhouse Morrisburg, ON Canada
FEB 17, 2018 - FEB 24, 2018 — Thorndale Dinner Theatre Thorndale, ON Canada
NOV 29, 2019 - DEC 08, 2019 — Grey Wellington Theatre Guild Harriston, ON Canada
NOV 14, 2019 - DEC 01, 2019 — The Pineapple Playhouse Fort Pierce, FL United States
SEP 26, 2019 - SEP 28, 2019 — Sunset Thespians Dryden, ON Canada
OCT 24, 2020 - OCT 24, 2020 — Playwerks Bella Vista, AR United States
MAR 12, 2020 - MAR 14, 2020 — Grassroots Round Lake, MN United States
OCT 16, 2022 - OCT 31, 2022 — The Aldershot Players Burlington, Ontario, ON Canada
MAY 05, 2022 - MAY 06, 2022 — Theatre Tillsonburg Tillsonburg, ON Canada
Guiness World Record
In the summer of 2016 Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon, ON reprised Knickers! on the stage where it had premiered almost a decade earlier. To mark the occasion they decided to recreate one of the features of the play - a GIANT pair of knickers. They spoke to one of their good patrons Doug Ruggles who owns the upholstery company Triden Distributers who agreed to provide the material; Debbie Poole of Lakeside Sewing who agreed to have her team - who usually sew boat covers! - to make the underwear; and organized for the Lakeview Arts Barn to display them on the side of the theatre as publicity!
As the project unfolded (that much material = lots of unfolding btw!) the Globus Team decided to try and make it into the Guiness Book of World Records. The criteria dictated that the knickers be over 70ft wide by 40ft high and three dimensional ie: they had to be made just like a regular pair of underwear that could be feasibly worn by somebody suitably statuesque.
The result was a voluminous blue pantaloon complete with polka dots that did indeed adorn the entire side of the Lakeview Arts Barn - there was even a tunnel created for guests to walk through to enter the building...a 'crotch walk' as it were!
A preview of the play was attended by MPP Laurie Scott and MP Jamie Schmale.
After a lengthy process with the dimensions verified by qualified witnesses Ted Johnson, Councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan and Architect Glen Wilcox the Knickers were officially granted a Guiness World Record for WORLDS LARGEST UNDERPANTS measuring 71ft 10.2in in width by 41ft 52.2in tall!!
