Front Row Centre reviews OPENING NIGHT

The Mississauga Players kick off the new theatre season with a production of Norm Foster's OPENING NIGHT. 

Foster's strength is writing natural sounding dialogue, and this gives the performers their chance to shine. 

Ryan Kinghorn as the sometimes snide and condescending director Richard Hyde-Finch gives the standout performance here. We enjoy watching him suffer in agony as his production falls prey to a variety of disasters. Kinghorn resists the temptation to overplay the character's outbursts keeping the role rooted in reality.

Elaine Lindo contrasts nicely by slightly underplaying the part of his long-suffering girlfriend Cilla. Her facial expressions when she catches Richard in what she believes to be flirtatious discussions with his leading lady are priceless.

Attending Richard's play on the occasion of their 25rth anniversary are Ruth and Jack Tisdale. She, anxious to broaden her cultural horizons; he, grouchy at missing the final game of the World Series. Carole Almas and Randy Bridge create a sympathetic portrait of a middle-aged couple desperately trying to get some passion back into their comfortable but staid marriage.

The supporting roles are well filled out: Tally Knipe is hilarious as Libby Husniak, the young starlet low on talent but high on career strategy.  Ryan Weeks enlivens the second act with his comic scene stealing as the waiter with dreams of being an actor.

Andrew Liptak scores with his overly flamboyant performance as the washed up has-been desperately trying to make a comeback. Bringing the proper old-world charm to the role of aging actor Clayton Fry is Alan McKenzie.

McKenzie also directs the production and keeps things moving at a steady pace throughout the individual scenes, but the transitions between scenes need to be staged more creatively so as not to impede the flow of the comedy.

This play sets up some great gags but fails to deliver the proper payoff. Yet as a study of characters, the play doesn't delve deep enough to be taken seriously. 

In the end it is the performances of the talented cast that make OPENING NIGHT an enjoyable curtain raiser for the new season.

OPENING NIGHT plays Thursday through Saturday evening at 8 PM at the Library Theatre, 1350 Burnhamthorpe road until Saturday September 16.  For tickets call the box office at 905-823-7100.