By David F. Rooney
Want a really good chuckle? Imagine Ken Jones and John Teed wearing falsies in Flying Arrow’s production of A Bunch of Little Plays and you’ll be sure of a ripping good laugh.
It’s hard to picture these guys cross dressing, however, that’s what you get in this mix of skits performed by Flying Arrow’s new Seniors’ Theatre Group. Okay, it’s harder to imagine the good Rev. Jones doing that than John Teed and Ken really can use a couple more socks in his bra but they are actually quite funny!
And it’s all in good fun. The skits are, by 21st century standards, pretty clean and the humour is gentle but there are some distinct high points: Joyce MacLean and John Teed in Just Another Woman in Love, Gill MacLachlan and Tina Whitman in The Recipe, Toni Johnston and Donna Macleod in The Sneeze and Jogging Along #4 with Ken and John.
There are nine skits in this two-act production:
Glacier Bay written by Frederick Stroppel and performed by Ken Jones, Carolyn Johnston, Tina Whitman. Directed by Toni Johnston, this skit focuses on a battling Bickersons-style couple played by Ken and Carolyn, with Tina as their doting niece. But all is it not what it seems! Watch for the twist.
Jogging Along #1, written by Dory Kaiser, is one of three similar skits featuring mildly bawdy and gently sexist (meaning largely anti-male but some self-mocking female) humour. This one stars Joyce MacLean, Gill Hewitt.
Secrets in the Clouds was written by Judith Allen and stars Gill Maclachlan and Donna Macleod as two not-so-angelic friends re-united in Heaven where they rediscover their penchant for Jameson’s whiskey, Scrabble and… well, that would be giving it away.
Just Another Woman in Love, is a song performed by the lusty Joyce MacLean with John Teed. Joyce is a professionally trained singer and it shows. As for John, well, he’s a natural ham and that tendency stands him in god stead on stage.
There is an intermission and patrons will be able to enjoy a glasss of wine in the foyer.
The second part opens with Dory Kaiser’s Jogging Along #2 featuring Joyce MacLean and Donna MacLeod.
It is followed by All I Want is the Recipe written by Georgia Tuxbury and well performed by Tina Whitman, Gill Maclachlan. Directed by Robyn Abear Tina is attempting to get her friend Gill to give her a recipe over the phone.
Improv, directed by Anita Hallewas, was written by Arthur S. Keyser and stars John Teed and Carolyn Johnston as a couple meeting for what we are led to believe is a blind date, or perhaps one arranged through an Internet dating service at a restaurant where Joyce MacLean is their server. But nothing is quite what it seems…
The Sneeze is also directed by Anita Hallewas. This is a loopy and mildly psychotic skit written by Frederick Stroppel featuring Toni Johnston and Donna MacLeod as two old friends enjoying time on a park bench… until Toni drags a brick out of her purse.
A Bunch of Little Plays closes with Jogging Along #4, which is performed the buxom Ken Jones and John Teed.
I enjoyed these skits. They held my attention and kept a smile on my face throughout the roughly 90 minutes the performers were on stage.
A Bunch of Little Plays is being performed at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre June 18, 19 and 20. The doors open at 7 pm and the curtain rises at 7:30. Tickets are $5 for children and seniors and $10 for adults. Tickets Are available in advance at Big Mountain Kitchen & Linen on Mackenzie Avenue and at the door. Bar service is available before the performance and during the intermission.
Here are some scenes from A Bunch of Little Plays:
