MABOU, NOVA SCOTIA: Legendary Ed Asner, winner of 7 Emmy Awards and known to generations of fans as Lou Grant in the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Santa in Elf and as the voice of Carl in Pixar and Disney’s Up, is heading to Strathspey Performing Arts Centre in Mabou for two exclusive shows. Asner will appear in ‘God Help Us!’ on Friday, October 18 and ‘A Man and His Prostate’ on Saturday, October 19 as a 2pm matinee.

The Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton debates of summer 2016 inspired playwrights Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor to write the political comedy, ‘God Help Us!’. It premiered in Chicago in August 2018. Mr. Asner keeps the script lively and relevant with timely updates. 

Billed as “a political comedy for our times,” the 90-minute stage show centers on two opposite-leaning pundits who are transported to purgatory by God himself for the purpose of debating today’s political and social issues. God – played by Asner – is a wise, cantankerous and wildly funny deity who confronts two political pundits with a romantic history: Lawrence (played by CBU Boardmore Playhouse’s Todd Hiscock), a liberal lad, and Leslie (played by Kerrianne MacKenzie), a conservative gal. God is not at all pleased with our politics or what we’ve done to his Creation. ‘God Help Us!’ speaks to audiences of all political persuasions with one essential argument: that we have to listen to each other so that we can all live – and laugh – together.

In ‘A Man and his Prostate’, a man discovers his inner self in more ways than one based on a true-life experience. A near tragedy is masterfully transformed into a one-man comedy, perfectly portrayed by Asner in his hilarious visit to the hospital in preparation for surgery he doesn’t want.

“It’s got wonderful humor and it’s got truth in it,” Asner says of the play written by Ed Weinberger, who, like Asner, has earned numerous Emmy Awards for his television work. Weinberger wrote for comedy legend Bob Hope, while also plying his craft for stand-up comics Richard Pryor and Dick Gregory. Additionally, Weinberger put his writing skills to work on television for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Dean Martin Show, and Taxi.

Tickets for these exclusive events are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 902-945-5300, or in person at the Strathspey box office in Mabou (Monday – Friday, 11am-3pm).