HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-12, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12,1992. PAGE 23.
E ntertainment
‘Gentlemen’ opens at Stratford
Backstage on stage
Jitters, by David French, which opened at Grand Bend's
Huron Country Playhouse this past week is a fun look at
the goings-on back stage during a theatre production. This
play within a play stars, from left: Desmond Ellis as Patrick,
John Gardiner as Phil and Nonnie Griffin as Jessica.
Theatre review
‘Jitters’ on stage at
Country Playhouse
BY LARRY CARDIFF
The critically acclaimed
Canadian comedy Jitters has
opened at the Huron Country
Playhouse. Written by David
French, Jitters is a play within a
play, providing an insider's view of
what really goes on behind the
scenes, all die problems and all the
joys.
The play opens on the set of The
Care and Treatment of Roses
which, is in final rehearsal by a
Canadian theatre company. The
featured actress, Jessica, as
portrayed by Nonnie Griffin, is a
fading ‘prima dona’ hoping to
make her grand comeback. Jessica
is competitively well matched by
the local celebrity leading man,
Patrick, delightfully played by
Desmond Ellis. Mr. Ellis'
performance is definitely the
highlight of the show as he
obstinately and fearfully resists
venturing afield by undermining
and resenting his co-stars haughty
airs.
John Gardiner is hysterically
funny as veteran character actor
Phil, a slightly effeminate
gentleman who dishes out his
whining complaints in grand
melodramatic fashion, with
elaborate bemoaning sighs and
lifting of the eyes. Phil is nervously
unsure of himself and the quality of
his performance, for as he
beggingly pleads to the director “I
know what it's like to be terrified.
I'm a seasoned veteran.” He often
becomes the butt of many jokes and
complaints from his fellow cast
members.
Jody Racicot is superb as the
junior member of the cast, Tom,
who just happens to show up late
on opening night-too drunk to go
on. Mr. Racicot's presence on stage
is always strongly felt, but after
seeing his great performance in the
Playhouse's production of The
Mousetrap I was slightly
disappointed at a role I felt should
have been somewhat enlarged.
Veteran actor Guy Sanvido plays
the disgruntled, often sarcastic
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stage manager Nick; while Simca
Kuper portrays his assistant Peggy.
Craig Eldridge appears as the
nervously insecure playwright
Robert, whose only strength is in
the power of his vision. Rona
Waddington makes brief
appearances as Susi, the girl from
the front of the house.
Richard Kovsky is the diplomatic
director George, the man not only
responsible for dealing with the
conflicting personalities and ego's
of his cast, but their moods and
anxieties as well. Mr. Kovsky's role
truly emphasizes the difficult chore
of a director as he must turn all
crisis' into triumphs.
Sean Mulcahy is the real director
behind this lively, and at times
truly hilarious examination of
backstage shenanigans. Jitters
reveals all the pettiness, squabbling
and backstabbing amongst cast
members, which only increases as
they prepare for opening night.
With miscues, mixed lines,
upstaging and wrongly placed
settings, we see the hilarity of it all
as chaos often ensues.
Though slow in parts, Jitters
often had the audience laughing in
hysterics at the antics onstage. The
great rapport among the cast works
best when they are all on stage, but
they must be congratulated on what
must have been a difficult job,
portraying actors who in turn are
portraying characters. The ending
left me in stitches, you have to see
it to believe it and to enjoy it.
I think Jesse sums it up best,
when George asks her to sit down
and discuss their problems like
adults: “We're not adults. We're
actors.”
Happy Le...4O
Nick
August 15
The Two Gentlemen of Verona,
William Shakespeare's comedy of
friendship and betrayal, opened at
the Stratford Festival's Tom
Patterson Theatre on Saturday,
Aug. 8 and continues, in repertory,
Yuk it up
at Blyth
with Yuk Yuk's
Yuk Yuk's is renown for their
international stand-up comedy and
on August 22, the Blyth and Dis
trict Community Play will be pre
senting Yuk Yuk's on tour, which
promises to be "A Night of the Best
Stand Up Comedy". Audiences
will be thrilled by the antics of the
three scheduled comedians, Larry
Horowitz, Steven J. Daniels and
Michael Elliot.
Larry Horowitz, who was recent
ly a winner on America's Funniest
People, also writes comedy materi
al for such popular talk show hosts
as Joan Rivers, David Letterman
and Alan Thicke. Mr. Horowitz has
also written for Canadian news pro
grams such as The Fifth Estate and
The Journal. He has appeared in
the movies Fire Balls, Mr. Nice
Guy and Nose Job, and has done
concert openings for Sheena East
on, Melissa Manchester and Paul
Anka.
Stephen J. Daniels is a touring
comic and impressionist with Yuk
Yuk's. His impressions include that
of Jack Nicholson, Louis Arm
strong, Kermit the Frog, Groucho
Marx, Danny Devito (the Penguin)
and George Bums.
Michael Elliot Rechtshaffen,
alias Michael Elliot, now ranks as
one of Yuk Yuk's foremost emcees.
Mr. Elliot has featured, hosted and
performed in various clubs across
Canada and the United States. In
addition to doing stand-up, he is
also pursuing the "thespian" art
form and has made appearances on
In Opposition and the critically-
acclaimed Kids in the Hall.
Advance tickets are $10, or $12
at the door. Tickets are available
from committee members, Blyth
Festival Box Office, Grandview
Too Sportsbar, or the Blyth Mini
Mart.
GRADUATION
Mr. and Mrs. Gord Jenkins of
Blyth, are pleased to
announce that their son Joel
Mark has graduated from
George Brown College In
Toronto from Culinary
Management. The grad
uation was held June 20,
1992 in Toronto. Joel is
presently employed at Bros.
Restaurant in Waterloo.
through Sept. 20.
Directed by Marti Maraden, who
also directed this season's
acclaimed production of Loves
Labour's Lost, The Two Gentlemen
of Verona tells the tale of Valentine
and Proteus as they compete for the
love of Silvia, the Duke of Milan's
daughter. Deception, disguise and
treachery unfold - most of it under
the watchful eyes of Launce the
clown and his ill-mannered dog
Crab - until friendship triumphs
and the two friends are reconciled.
Designed by Head of Design Debra
Hanson, The Two Gentlemen of
Verona features music composed
by Keith Thomas and lighting
designed by Kevin Fraser.
This production includes all 14
members of the Festival's Young
Company. Scott Fisher and Neil
Ingram will be alternating in the
role of Proteus; Mr. Fisher's debut
performance will be on Saturday,
Aug. 8, followed by Mr. Ingram on
Wednesday, Aug. 12. The Two
Gentlemen of Verona also features
Murray Furrow as Speed, Marcel
Jeannin as Thurio, Yanna McIntosh
as Lucetta, Daria Martel as Silvia,
Mervon Mehta as Valentine,
Michael Simpson as Launce and
Helen Taylor as Julia. Other Young
Company members appearing in
The Two Gentlemen of Verona are
Tom Allison, James Binley, Alain
Goulem, Scott Nichol and Dathan
B. Williams. Michael Simpson's
An Open House in honour of
HARVEY AND DEANNA
SNELL’S 25TH WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY
will be held at Blyth United
Church on
SUNDAY AUGUST 16TH
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Everyone Welcome
Best Wishes Only
August 11,1992
We want to wish our parents
a very happy anniversary.
Love Lisa, Freddy, Jesse,
Tanya & David.
dog Winter makes his stage debut
in the role of Crab.
In addition to the members of the
Young Company, this production
also features Lewis Gordon as The
Duke of Milan and Ian White as
Antonio.
THURSDAY NIGHT IS
WING NIGHT
5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT
WINGS 35C EACH
MINIMUM ORDER 10
a variety of sauces available
Wings available for take out at
regular price of 50c each.
THURS., FRI., & SAT.
5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT
WINGS & CHIPS
$5.45
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
THURS., FRI. & SAT. NITES
PIZZA
5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
25th
Anniversary
Hans & Audrey
Boonstoppel