The Citizen, 2001-07-11, Page 19Cheers
Actors confess their love of a young lady in the Stratford
Festival's production of Tempest-Tost. From left: Jonathan
Goad, Benedict Campbell, Michael Shultz and Richard
McMillan as Hector Mackilwraith. (courtesy photo)
By Mark Nonkes
Citizen staff
Stratford Festival's production of
Tempest-Tost proved to be one of the
most entertaining nights at the the-
atre in recent memory.
Filled with laughs, Tempest-Tost
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2001. PAGE 19.
Entertainment& Leisure
Theatre review
Johns pure Johns in Blyth's 'Passion'
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Al Wooing her
To win the affections of his Laurencienne (Mary Long) "by
acclamation", Narcisse Mondoux , (Ted Johns) makes a
phone call to her political opponent to try to discourage him
from running against her. The Passion of Narcisse
Mondoux opened this past week at Blyth Festival. (Off Broadway
Photo)
Theatre review
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
A burning infatuation blazes on to
a battle of the sexes before kindling-
the steady flame of mutual respect
and mature love in The Passion of
Narcisse Mondoux.
The play, written by Gratien
Gelinas with translation by Linda
Gabouriau, opened to a full house at
Blyth Festival on Thursday
night.
Unquestionably a big reason for
the sold-out status was the presence
of Festival favourite Ted Johns in the
title role. From his early days in He
.Won't Come in From the Barn to his
political rants on such topics as the
School Crisis, Johns has earned a
faithful following fond of his por-
trayals of the everyfellow.
Passion tells the tale of master
plumber Narcisse Mondoux who,
hearing of the demise of Alphonse
Robichaud, a local politician, sets his
sights or. wooing the widow,
Laurencienne. The humble trades-
man has apparently carried a torch
for the lovely lady since she was 18.
She got away then and he is deter-
mined she will not get away
again.
Though a little rough around the
edges when it comes to matters of
the heart, Narcisse's fumbling deter-
mination and passionate pronounce-
ments of desire (He yearns for her'
"in a most disgusting way.") eventu-
ally gets the attention of his prey.
So intent is he upon winning her
that he picked up nominations papers
as Laurencienne had told him over
her,husband's coffin that she wanted
to be the *wife of the mayor.
Showing them to her, he is in for a
surprise, however, as Laurencienne
announces she now wants to be
mayor.
For the chauvinistic plumber it is a
revelation that moves him down a
path of enlightenment. The transition
from passionate pursuit to threatened
machismo, to respectful admirer and
friend is as smooth to watch as the
phases of the moon. You don't really
see it happening; you just finally
notice it has.
As Narcisse, Johns was pure Johns
to the delight of the opening night
crowd. The affected mannerisms
work well for the ardent lover and
just when you might be finding the
exaggerated posturing a little wear-
ing, Johns pulls back and delivers a
subtle punch showing great comedic
timing.
As Laurencienne, Mary Long is
wonderful. In an understated per-
formance she is a nice contrast to her
larger-than-life leading man. Her
glances, her smiles seem to demon-
strate that she shares the audience's
amusement and affection for the
hapless suitor.
Directed by Linda Moore, Passion
moves along breezily, no big dramat-
ic dips or dives, just a smooth flow
of enjoyment.
Typically designer Brian
Perchaluk has set a stage that com-
plements the production well.
The Passion of Narcisse Mondoux,
which runs until Aug. 24, occasion-
ally goes for the cheap laugh, but
there are some very funny moments.
People will always find humour in
the differences of, and between, men
and women.
Gelinas just made it easy.
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Stratford's 'Tempest-Yost' filled with laughs
takes Robertson Davies' novel about
a small town amateur theatre compa-
ny in rural Canada in the 1950s and
brings the story to life on the stage.
The overbearing and animated
Nellie Forrester, president of - the
Saltford Little Theatre, brings an old
chum who has acted and directed
across the world to direct her com-
munity's production of an outdoor
version of Shakesphere's The
Tempest.
In the group are a wide range of
townspeople, a professor, an educat-
ed college drop-out, an elderly
make-up artist and a soldier, among
others.
The play centers around school
teacher Hector Mackilwraith, a neu-
rotic middle-aged man who demands
a part in the play, as treasurer of the
Saltford Little Theatre.
Mackilwraith is a man who is the
town oddball, a math teacher and a
man who leaves nothing to chance,
planning every detail of life.
However, the pajduction of The
Tempest plays a mere backdrop to
the pursuit of a young, woman,
Griselda Webster. While the lassis-
tant director and soldier battle over
Griselda's affections, Mackilwraith
admires from afar.
The situations and politics of the
little theatre are so true to real life. It
is a show that proves particularly
funny to those involved in a commu-
nity production at one time or anoth-
er.
As Mackilwraith, Richard
McMillan delivers a hilarious per-
formance, as a man who has so many
laughable tics and habits. Humour is
found in the way he eats, the way he
tastes liquor and the way he walks.
There are many other strong and
funny performances in the play,
especially that of Kate Trotter and
her on-stage hugband Robert King,
both familiar faces to Blyth audi-
ences. The two characters nicely
compliment each other as opposites,
Trotter as the high maintenance
woman in charge of the little theatre
who talks behind everyone's back
and King as easy-going, take-life-in-
stride guy.
As the director Lucy Peacock is
endearing as the most grounded
character in the show.
What Makes Tempest-Tost funny is
that all the characters in the play are
easily recognizable.
Another element of humour that is
easily recognizable is staging an out-
door production. The things the the-
atre group hoped to do with the
grounds and the constant challenges
of weather is parrallel to the fight the
Blyth Festiva ''s The Outdoor
Donnellys had with the elements.
Tempest-Toss filled a night with
laughs that will not soon be forgot-
ten.