By David F. Rooney
If you haven’t yet seen Mending Fences you had better trot out and purchase tickets for this week’s shows (May 3-5) or the 2012 Kootenay Zone Festival performances later in the month.
Witty, mildly racy and socially relevant are all terms that can be used to describe the Revelstoke Theatre Company’s production of this Norm Foster play, which is being performed at the troupe’s new home, McGregor’s at Powder Springs Inn.
Opening night on Thursday saw bums in over half the seats — an excellent turnout, especially when you consider that previous opening nights have traditionally been muck lower than that.
“Thursday had about 35 people, Friday about 40, and Saturday we had 50,” said the Theatre Company’s Martin Ralph. “I expect to sell out next week. We anticipate the Zone Festival will be well attended the following week also. Normally opening nights are low until word of mouth gets around, but this show was widely advertised and I think people are just excited that we have an intimate performance space downtown, so numbers are higher than normal. I’m quite happy about this.”
The crowd was very appreciative and well they should have been.
The performances by John Devitt and Denny and Lyn Kaulback were excellent. They were lively and animated and their dialogues bristled with emotion and humour.
In the 11 years I have been reviewing the Theatre Company’s performances of Norm Foster plays this was one the best.
The set is excellent and the new 60-seat space at McGregor’s is cozy and intimate without seeming crowded.
It’s great to see the resurrection of live theatre in a terrific permanent venue.
If you can’t see it this week, you’ll have a chance to see it during Theatre BC’s 2012 Kootenay Zone Festival. Here’s the Zone Festival lineup:
- May 10 — Revelstoke Theatre Company presents Mending Fences by Norm Foster (Comedy/Drama);
- May 11— Nakusp Mirror Theatre presents The Shift by Janet Royko (A Play with Music) ; and
- May 12 — Salmo Space on the Floor presents Of the Fields Lately by David French(Comedy/Drama).
The doors open at 7:30 pm and the curtain rises at 8. Cost? Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and children. Tickets are available at the Revelstoke Credit Union, Talisman Fibre and Trading Company and at Powder Springs.
