With a combination of mistaken identities, swinging doors, and riotous plot twists, See How They Run is expected to keep Drayton audiences laughing until Aug. 29.
“See How They Run is quintessential summer stock theatre fare,” said artistic director of Drayton Entertainment Alex Mustakas. “It’s light-hearted and silly – the perfect compliment to the lazy, hazy days of summer.”
The story behind this side-splitting tale revolves around the idyllic village of Merton-cum-Middlewick, which quickly becomes a centre of chaos and confusion. Starting it all off, a nosy resident spinster, Miss Skillon, becomes convinced that her beloved vicar’s actress wife is having a scandalous affair.
Desperate to expose the salacious relations, a tangled web of deception and deceit is spun as an escaped prisoner of war, visiting bishop, rotund locum priest, and devilishly handsome American actor all become caught in the race to reveal – or conceal – their outrageous indiscretions.
Written by playwright Philip King, See How They Run was originally performed in 1944 prior to a British tour as an entertainment for the troops. A re-staged and re-cast version of See How They Run later debuted in January of 1945, running for 18 months and notching 589 performances.
An exceptional cast has been assembled under the direction of Marcia Kash, including Stephanie McNamara (from Drayton Entertainment’s Cash On Delivery and Dads: The Musical). She tackles the role Penelope Toop, former actress and now wife of the local vicar, the Rev. Lionel Toop, played by newcomer Clive Walton; and Jane Moffat assumes the identity of Miss Skillon.
The cast also includes Kevin Burnett as Sergeant Towers, Phil Martin as the intruder, Paul McQuillan as Corporal Clive Winton, Nicholas Rice as Reverend Arthur Humphrey, Robin Ward as The Bishop of Lax, and Karen Wood as Ida, the Cockney maid.
“Over the past 19 years, the Drayton Festival Theatre has built a reputation for presenting brilliantly paced farces,” said Mustakas.
“The tradition is certain to continue with this highly polished comedic gem.”
Tickets may be purchased through the Drayton Festival Theatre Box Office at (519) 638-5555 or toll free at 1-888-449-4463.
For more information, visit draytonfestivaltheatre.com.
