Dating In The Dark – Radio Reinvented

“Dating In The Dark” is something very different. It’s an old-fashioned radio play – except there’s nothing old fashioned about it.

The script is set today, following Steph as she heads to “Dans Le Noir” where customers eat their meal in the dark. The twist? She’s also at a speed-dating session. The next twist? It’s for women only.

Over nearly 20 hilarious minutes, listeners get to follow Steph as she tries to find true love. Does it happen? You’ll have to tune in to find out. “Dating In The Dark” will be available through all streaming and music services starting August 9th and every stream/download helps fund the future of Brave New Productions theatre ventures.

Working with such incredibly talented (and hilarious) performers is always a joy and I thought it might be fun to hear the most awkward date stories from some of the cast:

ALAREY ALSIP (plays Tina): I was once taken on a date to a “blind restaurant”. We were completely in the dark. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. So I took full advantage and sat in my pretty little dress with one knee pulled up to my chest, my elbows on the table, and ate every course with my hands shovelling it into my face. Every time I went to take a gulp of wine, I stuck my fingers right into the glass to be sure I had a solid grasp on my precious. The experience was extremely liberating compared to my Old English table manners and etiquette. When it was time to leave I was desperate to find my napkin to wipe my face and make sure I didn’t look like a complete slob. No such luck. And no regrets.

STEPHANIE MCKENNA (plays Steph): I have never been on a blind date and at that, have only been on a total of like 5 dates (all people I ended up dating afterwards). I am pretty shy when it comes to that stuff and have been lucky enough to woo and win the people I have eyes for. Alas, that is all behind me. I’ve got a keeper if you know what I mean! (Wink Wink Nudge Nudge say no more.)

MARIE-NOELLE DUFOUR (plays Rebecca): In my early twenties (a long time ago), I met someone at work. He was cute, charming, super energetic, very personable, and great with compliments. We started dating, and I noticed he often had the sniffles. I didn’t make anything of it. After all, it was spring and allergies are not uncommon during that time of year. We went out for about three weeks, and then, one day, I couldn’t reach him anymore… literally. The guy had a pager (I told you this was a long time ago), two cell phones, a home phone, but he wasn’t answering any one of them. I got worried. A few days later, I got a call from his sister. She started telling me that her brother had turned himself into a rehab centre (I knew he had a substance abuse problem, right?), and that he would really appreciate it if I wrote him letters and went to visit him. Turns out he was a coke addict! Him asking me to pay for his groceries, him disappearing into a subway station for over 20 minutes while I waited in the car, his boundless energy, the sniffles! It all added up. After beating myself up for being stupid and naïve, I decided that three weeks of dating did not justify spending hours of my young life writing letters of encouragement and giving my “boyfriend” pep talks in rehab. So that was the end of that.

Are these stories better or worse than what happens to Steph in “Dating In The Dark”?

You’ll have to listen to find out – August 9th (iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, etc – just search “BNP – Dating In The Dark” or visit http://www.bravenewproductions.com for more details!