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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1991-12-04, Page 27Theatre review Males may not find play quite so funny I give up Actress, Susan Wright tries to figure out what went wrong with her life, in this production of Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine, which opened at London's Grand Theatre on Friday, November 29. by Bonnie Gropp While the women laughed and nodded during The Grand Theatre's production of Willy Russell's one - person play Shirley Valentine, there were at least a few men present, at Friday night's opening, who didn't quite get the joke. Mr. Russell's story of a middle-aged Liver pudlian housewife, who is frustrat ed in her marriage, and tired of being taken for granted by her hus band and children, is not a play that every man will enjoy. Several times, I noted around me chuckling women, whose escorts sat looking not a little confounded. For the playwright to have been able to offer such an accurate per spective oi womanhood is surpris ing, that is until you read in his bio that he was once a hairdresser, a profession notorious for becoming a confident to its clients. Shirley Valentine, played by accomplished actress Susan Wright, is a funny, gutsy lady, who tries to understand when life went awry. She notes that she once heard that after 40, things begin to look jaded and the past is remem THURSDAY NIGHT IS WING NIGHT 5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT WINGS 35® EACH MINIMUM ORDER 10 A variety of sauces available Wings available for take out at regular price of 50e each. CHICKEN WINGS & CHIPS $5.45 AVAILABLE MON., TUE. & WED. 5:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. THURS., FRI. & SAT. 5:00 P.M. • MIDNIGHT THURS., FRI. & SAT. NITES PIZZA 5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT EAT IN OR TAKE OUT bered as being better. "I must have been an early developer," she says. "Things started looking like that in my 20's." What happened to the romance and when did her children start taking her for granted? When did life stop being fun? "When did the boy called Joe turn into Him and when did Shirley Valentine turn into this?" she asks. Given a chance to visit Greece Happy 30th Birthday Love D, N, & T & Friends Brussels Bulls Jr. C. Hockey Club 9(ew gear's ‘Eve, ‘Dance Brussels Morris & Grey Community Centre 9 p.m. -1 a.m. $10.00 per person Music by DJ LUNCH PROVIDED HATS, HORNS, ETC. ALSO PROVIDED Proceeds toward Team Expenses AGE OF MAJORITY—PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR TICKETS CALL: 887-9289 with her feminist friend, Shirley is tom between a desire to break away and a fear of what's out there. After years of spending her time talking to the wall, she is afraid of life beyond it. "I'm terrified there'd be no place for me to go," she said echoing the fears of those who have found neither fulfillment, nor con tentment in their lives and relation ships. Her disillusionment in the first half of the play may be a little uncomfortable for some men, but by the end you understand the story is less about a woman being trapped in marriage and unhappy with men, than it is more about los ing sight of what's important in life, regardless of gender. Ms Wright is a warm, vivacious actress, who makes it easy to like the heroine, even when she's not at her best. Having seen her in many productions at Stratford over the years, I found her performance lacked her typical confidence. As Ms Wright had in a press release, admitted to being nervous about doing a one-person show, we can probably put this down to opening night jitters. The set and costume design by Debra Hanson is simple, yet effec tive. Nightime in Greece was real istically simulated by lighting designer Louise Guinand. There were some parts of the play I felt director Richard Monette could have moved more quickly through as they became a little wearing, particularly, a conversa tion Shirley has with her Greek lover and a monologue regarding a specific area of female anatomy. The Grand's production of Shirley Valentine is being presented in association with Stratford Festi val where he will run during the 92 season. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1991. PAGE 27. is coming to town BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL (upstairs) films and treats for the kids SANTA CLAUS Saturday, December 7,1991 at 2:00 p.m. sponsored by Blyth Lions Club Mo t e yo u r mo v e . The family of Gordon and Isobel Workman invite relatives, friends and neighbours to a "come and go tea" in honour of their 50th Wedding Anniversary upstairs at Brussels Morris & Grey Community Centre on Saturday December 14th , 1991 from 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Best Wishes Only Please