HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-03-22, Page 19Theatre review
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2000. PAGE 19.
At the Branch.
Brussels hosts
district contest
‘Doors’ lots of fun
Grand's ‘Doors'
Aviva Armour-Osrotf as Poopay and Kent Staines as Julian
appear in a scene from Alan Ayckbourn’s Communicating
Doors now appearing at London’s Grand Theatre until April
1. (Cylla von Tiedemann)
By Keith Roulston
In the latest production of the
Grand Theatre in London, play
wright Alan Ayckbourn manages to
squeeze in the science fiction of time
travel, some of the thrills of I’ll Be
Back Before Midnight, and the farci
cal laughs of a traditional British
bedroom farce along with a surpris
ingly moving ending.
Communicating Doors, also man
ages to provide challenging roles for
the actors in a plot complicated by
flashing back and forth between
three different time periods without
confusing the audience. At
Saturday’s matinee, with an audi
ence made up mostly of seniors, the
laughs were long and often.
Ayckbourn, so funny and so prolif-
Atwood Lions
Bingo
every Thursday
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Jackpot $500.
on 54 calls
Pot of Gold $500.
on 57 calls
Loonie Bin
ic (he has now created 53 plays) he
has sometimes been referred to as
the British Neil Simon, has always
been fascinated with complicating
the structure of what seem like sim
ple plots. In The Norman Conquests,
for instance, he created a trilogy of
plays all taking place in different
rooms of the same house at the same
time, but the story changed accord
ing to which room you were in.
Here the structural trick is per
formed using a hotel room closet that
becomes a time machine. When a
character goes into the closet she is
transported backwards or forwards
in time. First to discover the trick is
Buck <& Doe
for
Darlene Black &
Andrew McCutcheon
Sat., April 1, 2000
BMG Community Centre,
Brussels
9-1
Music by DJ Age of Majority
For tickets - 887-9560
Phoebe, (Aviva Armour-Ostroff) a
dominatrix for hire in the year 2019.
Hired by an elderly rich man she
quickly learns he doesn’t want sexu
al favours but someone to hear his
confession about the murder of his
two wives by his trusted colleague.
Armed with this knowledge she
begins to change history when she’s
swept back in time to 1999, just prior
to the murder of wife number two.
This wife, Ruella (Kate Trotter), at
first is disbelieving but a copy of the
written confession convinces her of
what has taken place and she sets out
to use the time travelling closet to
save first wife Jessica (Janet Land).
Throughout, the play the trappings
of a British sex farce are upheld with
female members of the cast spending
act one in various states of undress
and some funny, but risque physical
comedy in act two. But this is the
women’s play, particularly Armour-
Ostroff’s and Trotter’s.
Those who have seen Trotter in
many starring roles at the Blyth
Festival over the past 20 years, will
see a different side of her here (and
we’re not just talking about her night
clothes). Always an actor who
exudes strength, here she adds a
British brusqueness to her witty,
strong, intelligent Ruella who real
izes how to use the time machine to
change history.
Armour-Ostroff starts off with
what seems like a simple role as the
flighty Phoebe who, dressed in short
leather skirt, seems to be just the
comic element in the play. Not only
does she grow under the influence of
Ruella, but with the altering of histo
ry, she gets a chance to play a totally
different character.
Janet Land, who plays the flighty
Jessica (she appeared in Cakewalk at
the Blyth Festival) also gets a chance
to grow and change because of the
plot twists.
The men, by comparison, have
minor roles though’Bruce Hunter has
great fun playing Reece, the
women’s husband, in different times
and different personalities. So does
Robert Persichini (seen in Blyth in
Glengerry School Days) as the dull
hotel security man.
Kent Staines gets to chew up the
scenery as Julian, Reece’s evil
henchman no matter what time peri
od he’s inhabiting.
Communicating Doors is lots of
fun, yet despite the plot seeming
paper thin, it leaves you with things
to think about. It plays at The Grand
until April l.
KEB
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By JoAnn McDonald
The Legion Zone Convention was
in-Blyth on Sunday, March 12. Many
Brussels executive members attend
ed and learned what was going on in
the Zone.
The District Public Speaking is
being hosted by the Brussels Branch
on Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m.
Although there are no Brussels stu
dents speaking, I’m sure it will be an
enjoyable afternoon with a variety of
topics and talented youth. Everyone
is welcome to attend.
A good crowd enjoyed ham and
scalloped potatoes Friday night.
Saturday, eight members of the
Branch travelled to Clinton to com
pete at District euchre. They had a
good day but will not be advancing
to Provincials.
Euchre Saturday afternoon at
Brussels Branch had 10 tables at
play. First place honours were a tie
between Lloyd and Lilliao Appleby
and Mabel Willis and Helen Dobson.
Third place winners were Aileen and
Dennis Leddy. Ladies’ lone hand
winner was Lois Chamney. Men’s
lone hand winner was John Subject.
The Sunday morning breakfast
had a fantastic crowd enjoy a fantas
tic meal. The hard work of the morn
ing crew is certainly appreciated by
all the hungry churchgoers.
The Sunday night dancers enjoyed
the music of The Blenders and as
always enjoyed a delicious lunch.
A reminder to all that everyone is
encouraged to order tulip bulbs now
from the Legion for delivery in the
fall. The tulips are in recognition of
the 75th anniversary of the Legion
and so the past can bloom every
spring. The branch has a goal of sell
ing 3,000 tulip bulbs.
The Branch sends its best wishes
to Ross Duncan who is in hospital
and hopes for a speedy recovery.
Also Ross Bennett was feeling a lit
tle low and in hospital but is home
and feeling better.
The new millennium table is now
in place and is wonderful. The 12
foot table has Branch members’
names signed on it with Legion
logos in the centre and memorial
plaques at each end in memory of
Comrade Ted Elliott and Comrade
Bill Dobson. It has been finished
with a hard durable varnish that
hopefully will stand the test of time.
Thanks to Comrade John Harrison
for his time and talent.
Remember the general meeting is
Monday, March 27 at 8 p.m. All
Branch members are urged to attend.
We all would like to see you drop
in At the Branch.
Seaforth Juvenile
Boys' & Girls'
BROOMBALL
TEAMS
at the
NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
in Ottawa
March 30th to April 2nd
Stappy, t“
SiMhday
Hailey Snell
March 26