Like most Norm Foster plays, Office Hours mines comedic moments from the depths of its characters’ personalities.
That’s trickier than usual in this amusing romp, which slowly links characters in ostensibly unrelated scenes set in six different offices into one final funny showdown in a psychiatrist’s office.
While an interesting plot device, the format forces the quick creation of some broadly drawn characters whose wacky interactions drive the laughs.
While the version currently on stage at the Drayton Festival Theatre hits the mark harder on some scenes than others, the actors do a fantastic job of weaving the plot threads into a comedic whole.
Office Hours provides the ultimate challenge for any actor, credibly playing multiple characters within the same production, and the five performers charged with portraying 16 characters pull it off in spectacular fashion.
During the production one hardly notices that Jacob James follows up his turn as a one-armed man with a stint as a philandering husband and later a portly jockey. You’re too busy chuckling at his antics.
James, by the way, steals quite a few scenes with his high-concept portrayals.
Kevin Krunchkywich and Meghan Gardiner carry much of the weight through several scenes, and though they never come together on stage, provide strong chemistry with the other actors through a variety of roles.
Neil Foster plays some divergent characters in this show, ranging from a desperate Newsman to a confused parent, and never misses a beat in the transition.
Lorna Wilson is barely recognizable as she switches from portraying a struggling, but professional producer to a classic overbearing mother in the space of a scene.
Veteran director Max Reimer’s steady hand is obvious here, as the action flows seamlessly with the actors all clearly on the same page in terms tone and pacing for each scene.
Designer Sam Burson has created a set that is impressive in its simplicity and functionality, while still drawing wows from members of the near-capacity audience as they arrived on opening night.
If there’s a problem with this show it’s that some of the humour comes across as dated, not surprising given it was first staged in 1989. One such joke is a reference to a television actor few, and virtually no one under 50, have likely heard of.
More problematic, is a scene built around the reaction of two characters to the News that another is gay. Clearly the responses depicted are more in keeping with 1980s sensibilities than today’s, making any laughter they incited both perplexing and somewhat uncomfortable.
To be fair to the theatre industry, their choice is to either hold their nose and move past the obvious drawbacks of such material on a contemporary stage, play it as period, or consign to the scrap heap a lot of otherwise serviceable plays.
All things considered, the various elements of Office Hours add up to an enjoyable whole and a fun couple of hours at the theatre.
Office Hours runs from June 14 to 30.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Drayton Festival Theatre, online at www.draytonentertainment.com or by calling the box office at 519-638-5555 or toll free at 1-855-372-9866.
