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32 - Wednesday, December 15, 1993 — North Shore News

Blowin’ on Bowen by Nicola
Cavendish. An Arts Club Theatre
production, directed by Kim
Selody. To jan. 8, Information
and reservations: 687-5315.

Martin Millerchip
THEATRE REVIEW"

OCAL LOCALE ina
script can provide a
as touchstone of recogni-
tion, if not a feeling of
delight, for its audience.
Anyone who has experienced
the joys of hostage with B.C. Fer-
ries can relate to bets on whether
the ferry will hit the dock this. time.
There is comfort in the familiar,
of course, but there can be delight
when familiar circumstances are

« given a new spin.

Nicola Cavendish’s new play
may not be perfect but iv is full of

‘delight.

Your local newspaper even par-
ticipates in one of the funniest
moments in Blowin’ on Bowen,

Bernice Snarpley, the toothy re-
altar first introduced by Cavendish
in It’s Snowing on Saltspring, is to
play the part of a hump backed
salmon ior the Horseshoe Bay
Players.

As opening night draws nearer

“and her lires do not, Cavendish

puis back her head and howls that
it’s all a mistake and that she
misheard her partner and long-
time lover, Shirl (Goldie Semple),

_ reading a community theatre ad-
=vertisement in the North Shore
News — Wanted: thespians.

Funny as the line is ~ the au-

_dience howled on opening night

-- this is not a comedy that is full.”

of one-liners... . eo,
it is Cavendish’s observations of

“the quirky foibles of humanity that

sustains her comedy and

ultimately gives ita warm glow of

innocence, ; ;
‘But she also pushas the bound-

-aries of reality and whimsy in her

chronicle of events at the Come

“On Inn in Snug Cove and suc-

ceeds surprisingly well in suspen-
ding our disbelie?. -
Jt may only be a short ferry trip,

“but t suppose that Bowen Island

seems far enough away to most
mainlanders to justify any am-

Pa

CORRECTION NOTICE

{n our. 841-2 Christmas Catalogue,
Printad Stik Bras and Pantlos on page
19; Tae. styles of Panty Extravaganza
shown on page:23; My Dream
Daithouse on page 60 will be late -
rainchecks will be available at the siore.
Sportek Junior In-line Skates on page
67; Christmas Street 6.roll Wrap on
‘page 77 will be substituted.at the stare.
Fisher. Price Tape. Recorder,
Viewmaster Super Show Projector,
Mademoiselle Ride-ons on page 62 are
in limited quantities, Video Game
Cartedgas on page 65 may not be avail:
able in al! stores.
in our B1t-2 Christmas flyer, V-neck
Cardigan #4 on page {4 ~ all colours
may not be available in at) stares.
Quality Street Candies on paga 27 are
in limited quanities ~ will be substituted
. of the store, :
In our B14-38 Cosmotics tlyar, LAir Du
Temps Bonus on inside lett page should
not have included Eau De Toilette 50
mi,

«Sorry for any inconvenience this may

“ | “have caused

a i
xe

Photo: Glen Erikson

.NICOLA CAVENDISH as Zeke meets an angel-in-vaiting as Denis
Simpson drops in for a visit. Cavendish writes and stars in the
Arts Club produciion, Blowin' on Bowen.

mount of unreal behavior, while
“accommodating people familiar to
us all.

Besides the crotchety Snarpley
and the energetic Shirl, the inn‘s
work force includes the
monosyllabic, geriatric Zeke
(Cavendish again) and Brenda (Jay
Brazeau), a young girl with limited
intelligence but a huge capacity to
love.

The fact that her pet rat is nam-
ed Mr. Cheesy merely indicates
that playwright Cavendish knows
when a gag might smell a bit ripe.

Guests include Donna (Wendy
Noel), the artistic harpist with the
huge bottom; Eileen (Jay Coghilh,
a forthright Scottish spinster and
the stutteringly shy Dr, Ralph
Comfort (Brazeau),

Talkative bird life on the island
includes two charmingly detailed
crows, courtesy of Melody Ander-
son, and a carrierpigeon.

_ Denis Simpson is the feathered

- angel-in-walting, He will get his
heavenly wings when he delivers

_ his aext soul,
‘Unfortunately Bubba (Brazeau)
~ short for Beelzebub -~ places
temptation in his way, Will Johnny
Angel trade Brenda's innocent

_ soul (plus a portion of his basic

anatomy) for a night with Shirl?

Unfortunately this is alse pretty
much the only plot in the play,

Sure, the second act wraps up
the love interests (in completely
divorced segments) and even pro-
vides the best writing in the play as
Bernice and Shirl rediscover their
commitment,

But it. doesn’t disguise the
serious lack of character relation.
ships in the overall writing.

sete

i's as if, having given birth to a
wonderful menagerie of charac-
ters, Cavendish was denied the
time to raise them through
childhood.

However, the superb cast, de-
signers and director Kim Selody do
a greal job in disguising the fact,

The acting is uniformly excellent
with Brazeau’s Brenda, Noel's
Donna and Cavendish fin all her
roles) standing out,

Nancy Bryant’s costumes and
Paul Hoosan’s cartoon cut-out fig-
ures that pop in and out of the ac-
tion (even carrying it at Gne point)
perfectly capture the whimsy at
the heart of the play and area
large part of the production's
charin,

David Robert's set provides a
mixture of western/woodern/funky
architecture married te the bright
colors of a child’s story book,

Ifthe rock fireplace doesn't
quite work the explanation fies in
the practical requirements of the
second act,

I think it is safe to say that many
people will thoroughly enjoy the
talents on display here.

Andas a seasonal entertainment
the play has more to recommend
it than another version of Scrooge
and the Big Turkey.

Perhaps it is just that | expected
too much from Cavendish, | *

Her talents as an actor place her
ina class by herself and thad
hoped for a play that would match
that level. |

“Take innocence and you
murder the world," is a beautiful
theme,

But the message is delivered in
heavy rather than heavenly blows,

Serving World Famous fish & Chips
in HORSESHOE BAY simee 1946

'® Expires Dec.30/93
¢ Mon.-Thurs, only
2 p.m. to closing
* Horseshoe Bay loce-
tion only
© Eat-in only

Buy the first entree, and receive a second
entree of equal or lesser value with this ad,

FREE!

6408 Bay Street:
West Vancouver .

921-7755

Live Band

Tickets $45 a couple

For tickets call Darrell Shaw 987-8815 8-4pm
or Call the lounge in the evenings 988-9073

Reservations suggested

Fraternal Order of Eagles

Arree 2638

170 W 3rd Street, N.. Van.

ERR
NADA

AND THANKS AGAIN

FOR MAKING
ST-REMY

x
t

SELLING. .
BRANDY

| UN THE
COUNTRY
AGAIN
THIS YEARI

Source: Association of
Canadian Distiliens [ACD]
1993 Period 8 Repost

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