A premise rife with possibility and accomplished actors combine to make Weekend Comedy a fun and engaging evening at the theatre.
The play, onstage now at the St. Jacob’s Country Playhouse, tells the story of a middle-aged couple in the doldrums of a marriage who rent a remote cottage – she in hope of firing up some sparks with her mundane man, and he in hope of a quiet weekend.
In the throes of a possible triumph, enter couple number two – clearly not lacking a romantic spark – who have also rented said cottage.
The bedlam, accusations, bargains and laughs abound until the couples agree to share the cottage. A generation gap between the couples provides both insight and humour, thanks to playwrights Sam and Jeanne Bobrick, of some TV writing fame, but the play seems lacking in zingers.
Sheldon Davis as Frank works hard to get the utmost from his character. Frank is a middle aged stationary salesman, more engrossed in his kraft (paper) than any relationship crafting with his spouse.
He rages against the younger man Tony (played by David Coomber), who makes him feel “obsolete.” The physical humour is uproarious, and apparent in Frank’s ever-changing complexion. Though he does moon the younger couple and has a penchant for staring at fruit, he prevails as a complex character.
Susan Johnston Collins as Frank’s wife Peggy is polished in her delivery and is very likeable though wry through all of the antics. With her comedic expertise she is right on cue and derives the most from each line. She is a familiar face at Drayton Entertainment, including roles such as Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music.
In their Drayton Entertainment debuts are young whippersnappers Coomber and Emily Oriold as his wife Jill.
Tony thinks he has all the answers, though he needed therapy to find them, and Jill is the young woman who sees the good in all. Both actors play their youthfully-effervescent roles very well without being irritating at all.
Director Adam Furfaro, with his vast experience, extracts the most from the play and its actors with great comedic timing and fluidity.
The set, designed by Stephen Degenstein, was delightful and totally reminiscent of a real cottage.
Weekend Comedy plays at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse only until Aug. 24. Tickets can be purchased at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com, at the theatre or by calling 519-747-7788.
