Month: March 2013

For Immediate Release

The Oakville Players present …  Wife After Death by Eric Chappell

The Oakville Players presents its 2nd show of the 12/13 season, a hilarious comedy – Wife After Death, playing March 21-24 and March 27-30, 2013 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Oakville.   Come on out enjoy a lovely dinner at one of Oakville’s fine restaurants and then laugh yourself silly at this witty British comedy. Eric Chappell is an English comedy writer who wrote or co-wrote some of Britain’s biggest television situation comedies during the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s.  He has also written several plays.

David Thursby, a comedian and national television treasure has died, and on the day of his funeral, friends and colleagues gather beside his coffin to pay their last respects. The funeral is held at the home of Laura Thursby the grieving widow played by Burlington resident Ilene Elkaim.  Also in attendance are Harvey Barrett, (Robert Laszcz) Dave’s long-time writer, his wife Vi (Linda Morawiec), Dave’s agent Kevin Prewitt (David Raitt) and his wife Jane (Mary Stockwell of Hamilton). An unfamiliar woman has arrived in flamboyant mourning clothes and turns out to be Kay, (Wendy Oughtred of Burlington) Dave’s wife from before he was famous. Kay gives a series of revelations about Dave’s past leading some of the guests to wonder if they ever knew the “real” Dave. Hilarity continues as more truths are revealed. Even from the grave, Dave seems to be getting the last laugh!  

The show is directed by Bernard Pointet of Mississauga and produced by Mary Rose of Oakville. Rehearsals began in earnest in January and have been progressing steadily despite the hysterical bouts of laughter.  Director Pointet struggles to maintain his composure as the characters in this play are almost as funny as the cast.  Each actor has delved deeply into the psyche of their character to bring out every nuance of hilarity possible.  Producer Rose has been assembling an incredible crew of volunteers all specially trained not to laugh while the play proceeds so as not to drown out the patrons.  The Oakville Centre staff is fully qualified in emergency first aid to assist anyone overcome by amusement.  Yeah, it’s that funny!

Show dates and times:
March 21 – 23 @ 8:00 pm
March 24 @ 2:00 pm
March 27 – 30 @ 8:00 pm 

Where:
The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
130 Navy St.
Oakville, Ontario 

Free parking is available after 6pm in the municipal lot behind theatre.

Box Office number: 905-815-2021
Online: visit oakvilledrama.ca 

Tickets are $28.00.  Sunday matinee (March 24) and Wednesday evening (March 27) only $20.00! Groups of 10 or more receive a $2 per ticket discount.

As you may know, I have over the past couple of years taken a sabbatical of sorts from acting. This March, I am returning to the theatre in The Oakville Players’ production of Wife After Death. It’s a British play by the well-known UK writer Eric Chappell.

Comedian and national treasure Dave Thursby has died, and on the day of his funeral, friends and colleagues gather beside his coffin to pay their last respects. But an unfamiliar woman is about to arrive, bringing with her a series of revelations about Dave’s dubious past…

It’s a great modern play in the classic drawing room tradition, in which I have a relatively small but significant and funny part. And it has British accents – who can resist a British accent?

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The Oakville Players present
Wife After Death by Eric Chappell

at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
130 Navy Street, Oakville
Box Office 905-815-2021 or 1-888-489-7784 
Tickets online at http://www.oakvillecentre.ca

March 21-23, 2013 – 8:00pm curtain
March 24, 2013 – 2:00pm curtain
March 27-30, 2013 – 8:00pm curtain

Tickets $28 (Sunday matinee and Wednesday evening $20)