Review: BEDROOM FARCE is Messy and Hilarious!

Four couples. Three bedrooms. One messy (and hilarious) night of theatre.

Soulpepper's latest production of BEDROOM FARCE by Alan Ayckbourn is a laugh out loud performance. Centered around dysfunctional couple Trevor and Susannah, played by Ron Pederson and Amy Matysio, the comedy weaves together the hilarious night of four very different marriages - with all the chaos happening in the bedroom. Problems of intimacy, a ruined dinner party and the question of whether to eat sardines on toast in bed all add up to create a ridiculously funny jumble of commotion.

The stage is comprised of three bedrooms. To the left, Jan and her bed-ridden husband Nick played by Caitlin Driscoll and Alex McCooeye. In the center, Katherine Gauthier and Gordon Hecht play Kate and Malcolm whose frugal bedroom is the heart of a ruined and chaotic dinner party. On the right, elderly couple Ernest and Delia's heart-warming banter will melt your heart. These three seemingly unrelated couples are brought together through the havoc brought upon by Trevor and Susannah.

The stand out performances in my eyes were from Corrine Koslo and Derek Boyes. Their honest portrayal of Ernest and Delia reminded the audience of the beauty of marriage.

The audience is transported back in time through the bellbottoms, platform shoes, eccentric wallpaper and wainscoting. Every detail on the stage transforms the Distillery District to the heart of the 1970's.

A tad overacted? Yes. Perfect? No. A hilarious night of theatre? Definitely.

Now on stage through June 20th at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. For tickets call 416-866-8666 or visit soulpepper.ca for more information.

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