Clinton News Record, 2016-07-13, Page 13The Birds and the Bees': Brilliant physical acting
Heather Boa
Ontario Travel Diva
On the same day stock mar-
kets plunged, the pound ster-
ling took a nose dive, and those
who won the vote for the
United Kingdom to exit the
European Union were leftwon-
dering just what they'd really
done, a summer comedy, The
Birds and theBees, premiered at
the Blyth Festival.
Playwright Mark Crawford
could not have predicted that
his story about a young turkey
farmer who leaves her husband
and moves back into her moth-
er's home after a 20 -year
absence, and all the shenani-
gans that subsequently take
place, would premiere the day
after an historic vote. But as a
result of this coincidence, he
achieved the target result of a
good comedy - evoking much-
needed laughter.
We are introduced to: Sarah's
mother, Gail, an uptight divor-
cee who raises bees, which she
believes are dying as a result of
neonicotinoid pesticides in
com and soybean seed planted
by the neighbouring farmer
who rents her land; Earl, the
neighbouring farmer who is
also a little vulgar and randy;
and Ben, the student who is
studying the bees and more
often than not appears on stage
in tight biking shorts and shirt,
and ahelmet.
We also see two bare bums,
trunks, boxers, slips and a cou-
ple of bras in the impossible
hilarity of this play. Not to worry
though. It's suitable for adult
audiences of all ages to laugh,
as evidenced on opening night
this past Friday.
Marion Day (as Sarah) and
Nora McLellan (as Gail) have a
wonderful ease about them on
stage, as if they are living in the
moment and everything that's
taking place is really, truly real.
It's a particular pleasure to
watch the two, although Chris-
topherAllen (as Ben) and John
Dolan (as Earl) are also fine
actors.
But perhaps the real bril-
liance in the opening night
performance was the physical
acting all four actors did. Each
had to deliver not just lines, but
physical actions and reactions
that were dependent on timing
in order to nail the funny factor.
And nail it they did.
It was a hoot to watch
Gail argue with Earl while strug-
glingwith a dressing gown hast-
ily put on backwards or to
watch Ben try to pluck a bee
stinger from a particularly sen-
sitive region of his body.
I can't give away much more,
so you'll have to go see it your-
self, and forget whatever trou-
bles ail you and the world on
that day.
The Birds and Bees plays at
the Blyth Festival in repertoire
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 • News Record 13
Photo courtesy of Terry Manzo
Earl (played by John Dolan) whispers a few tantalizing lines into
Gail's (played by Nora McLellan) ear.
untilAug. 6. Tickets (Adults: $31
regular, $35 preferred; youth:
$15. All orders subject to $6
handling charge) are available
by calling the box office at 519-
523-9300 or toll free at 1-877-
862-5984 or online at www.bly-
thfestival.com.
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