Huron Expositor, 2016-07-20, Page 13Wednesday, July 20, 2016 • Huron Expositor 13
John Sharp Drayton Entertainment
The company of Hilda's Yard now on the small stage at Huron Country Playhouse
Nostalgic family comedy at Huron Country Playhouse
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance/Postmedia
Network
From the moment Patti
Allan begins her dialogue in
Hilda's Yard- you love her.
The production takes place
in the 1950s, but her words
ring true. She's the next door
neighbour you would love to
have a coffee -or maybe a
cocktail with.
The summer of laughs
continues at the Huron
Country Playhouse II with
an uplifting comedy that's
sure to keep audiences in
stitches with its nostalgic
look back at a seemingly
simpler time. Canadian
playwright Norm Foster
delves into the comedic
complexities of family
dynamics in the 1950s with
Hilda's Yard, on stage now
through July 29.
It's 1956 and the setting is
a picturesque yet humble
backyard complete with a
quaint fence and fresh
sheets hanging on the line.
This is the story of happy
empty nesters Sam and
Hilda, who are finally enjoy-
ing life on their own after
their children have flown the
coop.
They plan to purchase
their first television set as a
means of celebrating the
milestone, but their empty
nest isn't vacant for long
when their son, Gary, hops
the fence into their peace-
ful backyard, and propels
their serene existence into
a world of chaos. After los-
ing his job, Gary finds him-
self turning to the comfort
of home, trailed closely by
his sister, Janey, who has
just left her husband. What
follows is a hilarious situa-
tional comedy as Sam and
Hilda, with their values
carved in stone, attempt to
bridge the generation gap
and understand their kids'
perspectives.
"Hilda's Yard is a comedy
about coming of age, in
more ways than one," says
Alex Mustakas, Artistic
Director of Drayton Enter-
tainment. "Audiences will
surely recognize members of
their own family in these
indelible characters. This is
Norm Foster at his best -
funny, touching and very
relatable."
Patti Allan is Hilda Fluck, a
model '50s housewife on the
cusp of enjoying a newly
empty nest, only to be faced
with one obstacle after
another. Allan is both sweet
and fierce, making the most
of Norm Foster's witty dia-
logue with the dry sarcasm
of a tired but tolerant wife
and mother.
Making his Drayton
Entertainment debut, Brian
Linds delivers a nuanced
performance as the loveable
but old-fashioned patriarch
Sam Fluck. He expertly plays
the father who pretends to
know best, while silently
burdening escalating pres-
sures at home and work that
suggest otherwise.
Allan and Linds command
the stage with terrific chem-
istry, carefully drawing the
audience into their own little
story of family, life and love.
These seasoned artists do a
great job of conveying the
simple excitement for their
newfound freedom as empty
nesters, and subsequent
bewilderment as their grown
children retreat back into the
house.
Alan Kliffer is appropri-
ately affable and funny as
the Fluck's oldest child,
Gary, an impulsive young
man who wants to succeed
but can't quite catch a break
because of his questionable
choices. Ella Simon's come-
dic charm shines as the
Fluck's daughter, Janey, who
is finding out just how hard
marriage can be. Simon bril-
liantly brings the little sister
dynamic to life and balances
it with the grown up dilem-
mas of a newly married
woman who longs to be
more than just another sub-
urban housewife.
Brad Austin is audacious
and intimidating as the
smooth -talking neighbour-
hood bookie, Beverly Woyto-
wich, who complicates
things for the Flucks. Steffi
DiDomenicantonio is beau-
tiful and brash as Bobbi
Jakes, a hip jazz musician
and love interest for Gary.
Mark DuMez succeeds in
mounting a hilarious and
poignant production that
makes the audience root for
the fraught Fluck family. He
expertly guides the stellar
cast through all the twists
and turns, fostering natural
chemistry between the fam-
ily members and bringing
out the best in each of the
talented performers. DuMez
has served as the Artistic
Director at the Chemainus
Theatre Festival on Vancou-
ver Island since 2009.
If you go:
Regular performance tick-
ets are $44.00 for adults;
$26.00 for youth under 20
years of age; and $36.00 for
groups of 20 or more. HST is
applicable to all ticket prices.
Hilda's Yard runs through
July 29. Tickets can be pur-
chased in person at the
Huron Country Playhouse,
online at www.huroncoun-
tryplayhouse.com or by call-
ing the Box Office at (519)
238-6000 or toll free at
1-855-drayton (372-9866).