Michael Melski's two-actor Canadian play, with Irene Poole and David Ferry, is extending one week to Dec. 14. Performances began Oct. 31. This is the Toronto premiere of a play popular on Canada's East Coast and is expected to be performed around the country, where hockey is the national pasttime.

"Set in a ramshackle Cape Breton arena, Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad tells the story of Donna and Teddy, two single parents who watch their kids play a season of minor league hockey," according to production notes. "Through the masterful dialogue of one of Canada's finest East Coast playwrights, this unlikely pair reveal their dreams and fears, wins and losses, as they fall in love to the tune of referee whistles and a chugging zamboni."

Melski's many plays include Miles From Home, nominated for Best Play in the 2002 NS Theatre Awards, as well as the Summerworks hits Joyride and Heartspent and Black Silence. Also a screenwriter and award-winning director, he wrote the film, "Mile Zero," winner of first-feature awards in Houston, Victoria, and the Moondance Festival. Currently, he is developing "Smashed," a new feature film and writing for the new CBC drama series, "Political Animals."

Rosemary Dunsmore directs Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad. The creative team includes Glenn Davidson (set and lighting design), April Viczko (costume design), Steve Marsh (sound design).

Factory Theatre is at 125 Bathurst Street (corner of Adelaide Street). For information, call (416) 504-9971. For more information about Factory Theatre, devoted to the Canadian voice, visit www.factorytheatre.ca. *

Sports, parents and kids are hot lately as theatre subjects.

Richard Dresser's Rounding Third, a two-actor show about Little League fathers, has been seen in American regional theatres and completes an Off Broadway run Dec. 7; a play called Round Robin, The Battle of the Hockey Moms has been seen in Canada; and a play by Kathleen Clark called Soccer Moms is also getting some regional notice.