Norm Foster’s OPENING NIGHT, a comedy about the titled time period where a community theater presents a stage presentation of a grand production where the backstage antics holds most of its drama, concludes Theatre 40’s 2012-13 season and makes its west coast premiere.

The setting is the Piggery Theatre located in a small town in Quebec. It’s opening night for the drama “Whisper on the Wind”, a play about an aging farmer and his daughter down on the farm–where else? Among its theater gores there for the opening are Jack and Ruth Tisdale (John Combs and Gail Johnson). This couple is taking advantage of attending this play just because they received their tickets for free. Ruth works at the city offices, and the tickets were reserved for the Mayor, but he couldn’t make it so Jack and Ruth are attending in his place. But it also happens to be this couple’s silver anniversary, so Ruth is also taking advantage of the event as a special night on the town. Meanwhile, another pair are in attendance: Richard Hyde-Finch and his “lady friend” Cilla Fraser (Martin Thompson and Meranda Walden). This couple is there for another reason that Jack and Ruth. Richard is the director, and Cilla is present for moral support even though her interest at the moment is to start a family life. Meanwhile, there’s Michael Craig (Richard Hoyt Miller), a classic style thespian who auditioned for the play but wasn’t chosen, but earned his “fame” for appearing in a TV spot for a retail hardware store appearing as a socket wrench! Adding to the cast within the mix is Tom Delaney (Eric Keitel) a young actor seeking his big break whose real job is serving snacks and drinks in the theater’s VIP lounge–a place that doesn’t have many VIPs in attendance! So what will become of this drama and its many players and theater gores within? There may be more than just legs broken on this night than any other night!

This play written by Norm Foster, well known in his native Canada for his comedies, musicals, and occasional dramatic pieces, creates a witty play about (what else?), the theater-both on stage and off. It’s also a play-within-a-play where the stage work depicted about farming performs as a third rate Tennessee Williams vehicle, except it takes place on a farm! As to the performers in Theatre 40’s production, each one of the actors handle their roles that’s more comical than anything else. John Combs as Jack is a guy that feels out of place at this show, and is more interested in catching the ball game on radio or TV than sitting in a theater seat. Gail Johnson as Ruth is a gentle and humble lady who even after 25 years of married life, finds that the passage of time is just passing her away. Richard Hoyt Miller as Michael Craig is an old- school master of the stage that would rather perform in better roles. Martin Thompson as Richard Hyde- Finch is a director that can’t direct farm theme stage epics! And Meranda Walden as Richard’s sort-of spouse Cilla wants to get a family going, in spite of what her “husband” may desire!

Bruce Grey, the real director of this show, bears a celebrated stint in keeping up the pace with the players. There isn’t any physical antics seen per se, so the comical wit really plays a meaty part here; There are no hams in any of the bunch–or any puns intended either! And outside of the six players noted, two others, Ilona Kulinska as Libby and David Hunt Stafford as Clayton, appear as the pair of actors appearing in “Whisper on the Wind”. In other words, these actors play actors!

As to some of the background notes, Jeff G. Rack’s set design of the VIP lounge and the Piggery Theater itself shows off a simple setting while the “Whisper on the Wind”s backdrop depicts a storybook style look of a farm, complete with cartoon drawings of farm animals, barns, and a cornfield drawn not to scale. (Intentional one assumes!)

OPENING NIGHT is a better play in terms of comedy and “plot twists” than the play-of-the-play. (Of course, there are many other stage shows out there where theater life is depicted, but Opening Night is the one that matters for now!) As well expected, everyone in Theatre 40’s show will indeed “break their legs” (not literary) as this play is very funny and just as enjoyable. As the tired cliché may state, for every burned out light found on a Broadway theater marquee, there’s a broken heart attached. Since this show is far from Broadway, no burned out bulbs (or broken hearts) will ever get in the way! Just give this stage showcase a rounding applause!!

Rich Borowy for Accessibly Live Off-Line
May 20, 2013