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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-01-20, Page 19E ntertainment Theatre review Fun getting to play's end Inauspicious beginning Peter Donaldson and Sheila McCarthy have a memorable first date at a ball game in "Wrong for Each Other" the new play at The Grand Theatre in London. CHRYSLER All you have to do Is drive one. DICK HAGLE GrODERICH RYMOUTH CHRYSLER LTD. 414 Huron Rd., Goderich. 524-7383 Purchasing a vehicle is a big decision! Let us help you make the right one! GARRY WOODCOCK Quality Cars & Trucks We Can Save You Money Drive A Little - Save A Lot liKONTGonnERY I LUCKNOW 528-2813 HELD OVER 2 DAYS ONLY LOST IN NEW YORK FRI & SAT. JAN. 22 & 23 6:45 PM NITELY 8 PARENTAL n GUIDANCE KEVIN WHITNEY COSTNER HOUSTON THE BODYGUARD FRI. & THURS. JAN 22 - 28 FRI. & SAT. 9 PM SUN. - THURS. 8 PM 10504 LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-255-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO By Keith Roulston When the play is named "Wrong for Each Other" and it's a romantic comedy, you can be assured that in the end, the title is going to be wrong. But in Norm Foster's play that opened at The Grand Theatre in London Friday night, knowing the ending doesn't spoil the fun. In fact getting there is all the fun as Mr. Foster creates two characters you care about, two characters full of wit and charm. There's also the added fun of watching two fine actors who in real life are married to each other, play a couple who have their troubles getting together, and staying together. The play opens with the sup- posed random meeting of Norah (Sheila McCarthy) and Rudy (her real-life husband Peter Donaldson) in a restaurant. They start to remi- nisce and we're drawn into a series of flashbacks. They're obviously a couple with a past but we don't know just what their past is. In the flashbacks, somewhat clunkily realized through the use of the Grand's revolving stage, we see their meeting, their hilarious first date at a ball game, meeting the family and so on. It's always just the two characters on stage, but they're so much fun to watch you don't really object to not having more people around. From the beginning they obvi- ously are wrong for each other. He's a painter (not an artist, a house painter) while she is the daughter of a symphony orchestra leader who makes her living managing a hock- ey arena. Both have had a long string of other unsuccessful rela- tionships. Her father hates him (Rudy later figures its progress when the father goes from throwing a dumpling at him on their first meeting to throwing croutons at their wedding). He's a slob, she's compulsively neat. Still, you just know this is a couple that was meant for each other despite all their differences. On stage, Ms McCarthy and Mr. Donaldson are obviously right for each other. Ms McCarthy's reputa- tion is as one of Canada's finest comic actors so it's no surprise to watch her perfect timing, to see her get every ounce of comedy out of a line without seeming to milk it. Her husband, however, is more known for his Shakespearean roles at Stratford and so watching him in a modem comedy is a revelation. He can match his wife laugh for laugh and his timing, as a guy who insists on lying but realizes he's caught and quickly ducks to a different lie, is wonderful to behold. There were many in the audience who wanted a standing ovation for the couple at the end of the play but Grand audiences aren't quick to jump to their feet so it ended up being a half-hearted event. The actors probably deserved it, partic- ularly their graceful, and funny recovery when the revolving stage refused to work at one point, leav- ing them sitting in a dimly lit stage waiting for the "kitchen" of his apartment to arrive. Ms McCarthy broke up the audience then with an impromptu quip while Mr. Donald- son matched her at the end of the scene when it appeared the kitchen might now stay there instead of dis- appearing. Also deserving a standing ova- tion is director Janet Wright, better known for her acting in such roles as "Shirley Valentine" at Stratford and "Bordertown Cafe" at_The Grand. She keeps the action mov- ing so you hardly notice the first hour has leapt by. The play was a last-minute replacement in The Grand's Theatre after the rights for "Whatever Hap- pened to Baby Jane" were with- drawn. Grand Artistic Director Martha Henry asked the couple to help her out. Mr. Donaldson did so even though it meant he gave up his vacation. Few in the audience probably minded the cancellation of Baby Jane after watching this delightful couple who are so right for each other. Democracy comes to McManus John Murrell's newest play, the high-acclaimed Democracy, arrives in the McManus, Jan. 27 and continues until Feb. 13. Democracy stars David Fox, Jerry Franken, Kevin Bundy and . Andrew Younghusband, and is directed by artistic associate Charlie Thomlinson, with the set, costumes and lighting designed by John Thompson. It is July, 1863 and as the American Civil War rages, two elder American statesmen, Walt Whitman (David Fox) and Ralph Waldo Emerson (Jerry Franken), meet for a picnic in the stillness beside a secluded pond. As the two gentlemen are old friends, they discuss the things old friends discuss: the past and the future, life, death, love and what it means to be human. Being poets and dreamers, Whitman and Emerson discuss their beliefs and their doubts with a particular passion and honesty. But in the midst of the most savage conflict ever waged in North America, more is at stake in their argument than pride or abstract philosophy, Is war ever justified? Does it ever lead to a better life, to a strong nation, to a sharper sense of human brotherhood? The two men are joined by two younger ones: Pete (Andrew Younghusband), who is a deserter from the army of the Confederacy, and Jimmy (Kevin Bundy), a badly wounded veteran of the Northern cause. In the woods outside Washington, these four very different men attempt to reach an understanding of the sanctity of death, of the very great importance of being alive. John Murrell, whose play Farther West was presented at The Grand in 1990, is one of Canada's most frequently-produced Canadian playwrights. His plays have been translated into 15 languages and performed in over 35 countries around the world. Walden Photography Weddings & Portraits Call Gary Walden 482-7675 As everyone knows the Blyth Community Play is well underway, but the committee needs your help. With the various fundraising and publicity events there are many ways in which people can offer their assistance. Co-ordinators Karen Stewart and Fran Cook say that there are presently many people actively involved in the many committee and workshops, however, they are constantly searching for more to join the ranks. Dances need decorations and Stratford Festival, General Manager Gary Thomas has created, for 1993, an extensive and innovative package of discount programs. In introducing the programs, Thomas said, "Every year, the Festival attracts close to 500,000 patrons, and we carefully designed these programs to ensure that discounts were not restricted to certain audience segments but were accessible to everyone who attends the Festival." Bring a friend for free! All tickets to Tuesday performances of Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Gypsy and The Imaginary Invalid, at the Festival Theatre* are now available at an incredible two-for-one price. Individual tickets to these performances are available at 50 per cent off regular prices. This *excludes opening nights and the July 13 Christopher Plummer gala performance. A special block of student seats has been set aside for every 1993 performance at all three of the Festival's theatres for only $20 per ticket. These tickets are available to students with a valid student card. Introduced in 1992, the Family Experience program proved so popular that it has now been expanded to include more than 75 per cent of all 1993 performances. The program entitles each adult who purchases a regular priced ticket, in any category, to buy up to two children's tickets at $15.50 each for guests age 18 or younger. During the two weeks preceding any Preview performance, seniors can purchase seats for only $20, subject to availability. Students and seniors can save from 35 per cent to 66 per cent on tickets for certain midweek matinee workshops need to be heard about, the co-ordinators said. The goal is to compile a list so they'll know who to call for what is needed. "It's always easier when there are many people doing small jobs than one doing it all," said Ms Stewart. "With help from everyone we can make this a rewarding community effort," added Ms Cook. "Our hope is that it will give the community a new perspective on old fellowship and provide an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better." performances. This program allows students and seniors to attend matinees for as little as $14.50 per ticket. Goderich hosts Winterfest "Come Out and Play", is the theme this year for the Goderich Winterfest Weekend on Feb. 5, 6, and 7 in Canada's Prettiest Town, Goderich. Highlighting the weekend is a 50's-60's dance on Saturday, Feb. 6 featuring Eddie and the Edsels at the Columbus Centre of Goderich. Tickets are $15 per person. Tickets are available at the Goderich Recreation office or Marlin Travel. Other events include the Goderich Rotary Club's chili cook- off, a snowpitch tournament, skating parties, treasure hunts, a night parade, pancake breakfast and a free movie matinee for the kids and much, much more! THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1993. PAGE 19. Community Play seeks volunteers for activities Stratford Festival introduces special discount programs