聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Having formed in 1986 Cornerstone Theatre has presented numerous dramas and comedies to Carlyle and surrounding community for 29 years. They began hosting a comedic dinner theatre every year in the spring and this year is no different with the comedy, 鈥淢ove Over Mrs. Markham,鈥� by Ray Cooney, to be hosted on March 27 and 28 with a matinee on March 29 in Carlyle Memorial Hall.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A comedic play of mistaken identity, the farce is set in London on the top floor of a ritzy apartment.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The plot of the play follows a happily married, wealthy couple, Philip and Joanna Markham. Philip is a publisher who works alongside his business partner, Henry Lodge, and although Henry is married he is not faithful. He talks Philip into allowing him to use the Markham鈥檚 flat. Henry鈥檚 wife, Linda, is aware of the affair and decides to have one as well, which Joanna decides to let them have the flat.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With other characters coming and going, with plans going awry, and an unexpected guest stopping in, the Markhams and company will provide the audience with many laughs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Director Doug Waldner explained, 鈥淒on [Carter] decided we should do it again. We had performed it in 2001 and the audience enjoyed it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It has therefore been 14 years since it was last performed and the cast, many of whom were in the first one, explained they didn鈥檛 remember the plot. Many of the Cornerstone Theatre group were in the play in 2001, but as different characters.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t is a very funny play,鈥� Joan Bue, one of the cast, stated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Waldner added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not very often where you get a script and actually laugh while you鈥檙e reading it. A lot of time you need it brought to life before it is really funny, but this one is funny even when you read through it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lane Easton, one of the cast members, was also in agreement, 鈥淭his one [this script] is smart enough that you laugh when you read it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to the script being funny, the cast has been working on the set and their interactions with each other and the props to create physical comedy as well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 quite in line with the farces we typically do: doors opening and closing, mistaken identities, and a lot of physical action,鈥� Waldner said. 鈥淎ctually about 80 to 90 percent of human communication is done non-verbally, so it鈥檚 very important to physically tell the story.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Cornerstone Theatre has been working on the production for the last month and will now be working on bringing together their costumes, lines, physical comedy, and making sure the set is perfect before their big weekend on Friday, March 27, Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Supper will be served on the Friday and Saturday night showings at 7 p.m. with the performance beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets will be $35 and will include a delicious meal made by David and Shelley Slykhuis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Sunday matinee will be a dessert theatre with the show beginning at 2 p.m. for $20.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Tickets are on-sale now from The Pearl Boutique located on Main St. across from Memorial Hall.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For more information visit http://www.cornerstonetheatre.ca/
