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7, No. 18 November Tuesday, March 6, 2012 Vol. 7, No.Vol. 2, Tuesday, 8, 2011
Laughter lights up performance Off-beat and hilarious Boardinghouse comedy a crowd pleaser
The Chipman Players put on a great show for a sold out crowd at the Chipman Hall last Saturday night. The laughter was almost non-stop during the performance. BY MICHELLE PINON Editor
There was never a dull moment in The Boardinghouse. From the time Gwynne Hayward, aka Miss Harriet, the owner of the Home Sweet Home Boardinghouse, entered the stage to the time the entire cast took their final bows, it was one bizarre scene after another. Each character brought their own brand of humour as well as unique challenges (mainly mental maladies) to their role, kaos and continual series of crazy misadventures ensues. Throughout the dark stormy night Harriet's helpful advice was dispensed as often as she tried to keep tabs on all the comings and goings of visitors and residents of the manor house who rushed in and out of the living room like a band of banshees. Much of the “to do” has to do with a story of so called hidden treasure that's buried somewhere
beneath the boardinghouse. Dirk Shadow, played by Keiron Willis, and his shadowy sister Veronica, played by Donna Pitzler, try to use their wiley ways to uncover the truth and whereabouts of the pot of gold. Wielding more than his pen, is poet Mr. Richards, played by Bruce McGregor, who has about as much imagination as an accountant. He gets put to work as a handyman, and spy, while hypochondriac Martha Willis, played by Carol Stribling, flitters about the manse. Always brewing up interesting concoctions of tea is Tweenie, played by Bonnie Mandryk, a high strung servant girl whose eyes and ears betray her. In the mix is taxidermist Glady Klotz, played by Mikayla Derksen, who is ready to stuff her prey at a moment’s notice or commune with various spirits including her dead husband's that is kept away in her closet. Dr. Sni-fell, played by Fred Pewarchuk, frequently drops by to make house calls. But he, as well as Hortense, played by Joyce Dobirstein, can't keep up with cheerful artist Ivy, played by June Lambkin,
who loves to run in and out of the living room to paint her subjects, albeit unwilling subjects faces. Things are definitely harried, and as Mr. Richards states: "cook-a-loo" before everyone retires for the evening. Not only is the plot clever, it is laced with tonque-in-cheek humour, that has everyone in the sold out audience laughing. Adding to the hilarity, are several lapses between lines, lines that don't always readily come off the lips of actors. But what normally would take away from the performance, actually adds to it, and enhances the flavour of the wacky story. So it seems that "cookies and cold liver oil cure everything," and one could heartedly agree, laughter truly is the best medicine. If you are looking for an entertaining evening out, and want to support the restoration efforts of the Chipman Hall, and the local drama group, then you'll have another chance to see the play on March 17th.