Don't Hug Me, a musical comedy playing at Stage West Calgary, is a show that is charms due to the fact that the actors dive head first into their roles. Goofy, corny and at times clichéd, it is also a lot of fun.

Set in the frigid winter of Bunyan Bay, Minnesota, bar owner Gunner Johnson (Kieran Martin Murphy) is trying to convince his wife Clara (Katherine Fadum) to sell the bar and move to Florida. Clara is having none of it, and trying to figure out how to re-spark their relationship. Along comes Aarvid Gisselsen (David Leyshon), whose karaoke machine starts to turn the lives of the Johnson's, as well as waitress Bernice Lundstrom (Natascha Girgis) and her fiance Kanute Gunderson (Sheldon Bergstrom) upside down.

I will admit a bias towards this show, as I have long loved Katherine Fadum, who finally seems to be getting her due with some high profile shows in Calgary, and Sheldon Bergstrom brings so much energy and pure joy to any part he takes on that he is always a pleasure to watch. Add in three other performers who are fully committed to the show and it works out wonderfully. They dive into cheeseball songs like My Smorgasbord of Love and I Wanna Go To The Mall of America with a nod and a wink.

There are only a few days left of the show so make sure you check it out. There are three other Don't Hug Me musicals, so who knows? This may not be the last we see of these kooky characters, and I would certainly enjoy another visit.