Fostering comedy The Victoria Playhouse chooses a Norm Foster play, The foursome, as its next production SALLY COLE The Guardian
Victoria Playhouse has a history of producing plays by Norm Foster.
In the past 10 years, the theatre company has put nine of his comedies on the boards.
They’ve become a favourite with the artistic director.
“I like Foster because of his turn of phrase and the way he uses beats to invoke laughter in the audience. He’s a Canadian Noel Coward,” says Erskine Smith, who has chosen yet another Foster-penned play for this summer’s lineup.
The Foursome, which runs until Aug. 31, is about a 15-year college reunion that brings four buddies together for a game of golf.
But mainly, the laughter is caused by the antics of the characters who fall from Foster’s pen.
“The playwright has a depth to the people that he creates that you don’t often see in comedy.
“His characters are so believable that theatergoers will see bits of themselves and their neighbours reflected on stage,” says Smith.
For starters, there’s Cameron, who has a great job but insists on living his life through the actions of his family and friends.
He’s played by Dale Harrington.
“Cameron is a universal character. He is a little bit stuck in the past. He really cherishes the free days at university and is looking for a relationship.
“His character also has great one-liners, and that’s great for me because I like to get a good laugh,” says Harrington.
But what endears him to the audience is his ability to connect with others.
“The world tends to push people apart. But most everyone is in need of a close bond. So Cameron represents the part of us that wants to be close again,” says Harrington.
Then there’s Donnie, played by Stephen MacDougall. He’s an all-round family guy and father to five.
“He could be everyone’s best friend. Donnie evokes sympathy from the audience. They really feel for Donnie.
“As the show goes on it feels like everyone is rooting for him,” says MacDougall.
Then there’s Rick, an accomplished salesman who is very self-centred and cocky. Will McFadden plays this role.
“He’s the one in the group who has moved away. He lives in Florida where he’s a boat salesman,” says McFadden.
All the characters have an equal opportunity to be catalysts in the play. But he drives things along because he’s willing to push everyone’s buttons to bring out the emotions of the other characters that might not otherwise be expressed.
“So he’s the bad guy in the group,” says McFadden.
The fourth character in this comedy is Ted, played by Josh Weale.
“He’s in his 30s, newly remarried to a much younger woman. He’s in a midlife crisis, looking for answers and some new ways of living.
“He’s trying to figure out who he is and put it into relation with his old friends. Together on the golf course makes for a very funny play,” says Weale.
That’s what Smith is counting on.
“I chose this play because I wanted to please the theatergoers at Victoria. The vast majority of our audience tells me, ‘We want to see comedies in the summertime.’
“And I don’t know a better comedy writer in all of Canada then Norm Foster,” says Smith.
At a glance
The Foursome and Foster fast facts
Playwright: Norm Foster.
Plot: A 15-year college reunion brings together four buddies, who take to the golf course to catch up with each other. As the game progresses, their successes and failures spill out, and the bittersweet comedy of their lives is revealed.
When: Select nights until Aug. 31.
Where: Victoria Playhouse.
If you go: Tickets are available by calling 658-2025 or 1-800-925-2025.
Websites: www.victoriaplayhouse.com or www.normfoster.com.
Popular choice: In the past 10 years, the theatre company has produced nine of Norm Foster’s plays. They include Sinners, The Motor Trade, The Affections of May, My Darling Judith, The Melville Boys, The Love List, The Long Weekend, Here On the Flight Path and Wrong For Each Other.
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