This week I'll move away from music for a look at some of the local theatre we can catch this month, including a surprise offering at a place I bet you have not thought of going to for awhile, but you really should.
First, a quick preview of the new production opening tonight at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre in downtown St. Catharines. Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects opens their new show, John Buchan's The 39 Steps, which runs through to March 27th. I can't attend the opening tonight due to a prior commitment, but I will be there next Saturday evening to review on the full production. Last week, however, I attended a media preview that included a couple of short scenes and a chance to meet the actors, and from that short experience I think I'm pretty safe in saying this should be a pretty funny show on a winter's night.
Artistic Director Kelly Daniels directs the show, which stars Jason Cadieux of Essential Collective Theatre; Jon Osbaldeston who does a lot of work locally with several groups and has performed in London's West End; and two Shaw Festival members, Lorne Kennedy and Jenny L. Wright. Between them there are about 100 characters portrayed over the course of the play, so count on several lightening fast costume changes between scenes.
I will write more about the show after attending next Saturday's performance, but if you can't wait and want to go sooner, by all means call the Lyndesfarne box office at 905-938-1222 or go online at www.lyndesfarnetheatreprojects.com.
Now, last evening, we attended the World Premiere musical On The Radio at the Oh Canada Eh? dinner theatre on Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls. The show opened February 17th and runs right through to April 2nd., so given the fact the run is half-way through already, the well-attended show last evening suggests word is getting around this is one fun musical to catch this winter.
Written and directed by Lee Siegel, who is now preparing for roles in a couple of Stratford Festival musicals this season, the show is a two-hour long, fast-paced review of popular music from the 40s right through to the current day. I must say, though, older people in the audience such as myself identified with the first half music more than the second half, generally speaking, and the younger people in the audience must be wondering what we were doing in the 70s and 80s with some of the outfits worn during the show!
Almost all the music is readily identifiable, from Glenn Miller's In the Mood to Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet; from Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance with Somebody to My Heart Will Go On from the film "Titanic". There are some I might question including in the show that might be lost on some audience members, but overall, the music is solid and fun to listen to again. Some, even painful, in a nice reflective way!
The cast of six young singers is amazing. I could never remember the lyrics to 100 songs as well as dance steps and song introductions; these six young performers make it look easy. The six cast members, all of whom have performed at Oh Canada, Eh! on numerous occasions, know their stuff and avoided making the music sound too bland; they all get their solo spots and make the most of them. The six, Melissa Penner, Meaghan Chapin, Kelly Holiff, Craig Maguire, Jean-Francois Grenier and Patrick Whalen, have fun with the music and that fun transfers beyond the stage to the audience as well.
A word about the food before I finish. I have been to dinner shows before and even some restaurants that can't serve up a dinner as quickly and efficiently as this group did at Oh Canada, Eh. From the moment we sat down at our table and introduced ourselves to our fellow table guests shortly after 6 pm, the different courses were presented quickly but never in a rushed fashion. In fact, dinner was completed in plenty of time to chat with your neighbours for a good 20 minutes or more before the show started. Our particular server, Meaghan, had to excuse herself early to get ready for the show; now that is a busy evening, serving tables and then appearing in the show!
The food, by the way, was exceptional given the size of the crowd and the time constraints they have to work under. All the food was beautifully presented, served piping hot and delicious. Even my far better half Sophie, who is now vegetarian, was impressed with the accomodations made for her menu selections.
Great job all round, and well worth your time before the show closes on April 2nd. For tickets, call 905-374-1995 or go online to ohcanadaeh.com.
March 12th, 2011.
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