Pigs Do Fly Brings a Second Course of Canadian-based Laughter to Fort Lauderdale’s Empire Stage
Theater Review by Myra Chanin . . . .
Ever heard of the playwright Norm Foster? If you like to laugh, he’s well worth hearing about. For the past 20 years, he’s been the most produced playwright in Canada. His 60 comedies have received an average of 150 international productions, and well-deserved rave reviews. His snappy dialogue, everyday situations, and gently balanced characters that dare to represent that great, under-represented, middle class of North American society make him the prospective Gold Medalist in the Comedy Plotting Olympics.
Laughs produced by Foster’s skilled wit—and dexterity with punch lines—haven’t always eluded our neck of the woods. He’s been celebrated down here (in Florida), specifically by Pigs Do Fly Productions. They loved staging Foster’s Ladies Foursome so much, they’re now presenting a second of his comedies, The Affections of May (which runs through March 31 at Ft. Lauderdale’s Empire Stage), for and about an often-ignored demographic—people over a certain age whose lives are interesting, messy, funny, hopeful and as real now as they were then. But the icing on Pigs Do Fly’s cake is the presence of young people in their audience, proving that well done theater has no age limits.
May (Deborah Kodelik), whose affections will be deconstructed, is the female half-owner of the charming Colonial Bed and Breakfast in Nowheresville, New England—actually Grogan’s Cove—who’s pouring juice, setting a table and preparing coffee for Brian (Brian James McCormack), her husband and the half-owner by the entireties of the above mentioned B&B, urging him to hurry so they’ll be on time for their scheduled wood-chopping lesson. When May’s in the kitchen, Brian steals down the stairs, dressed like he’ll be driving back to the city in a suit, an overcoat and a hat. He’s also carrying two leather suitcases packed with clothing (we presume) that he’ll be taking with him . . . rather than May. He hesitates, hangs up his coat and hat, and sits down at the table to wait for his breakfast. The drive to the city is too long to bear without bacon and eggs.
They argue. He tells her he hates the B&B, he hates small-town life where everybody knows everybody’s business, and all that anyone discusses is the weather. He doesn’t intend to learn wood-chopping with her dressed like a Russian laborer laying tracks on the Moscow Subway. May mentions the other woman. He lies. He checks the amount of money in their bank account and storms out of the house.
This second-hand recitation of the events may not sound amusing, but it incited lots of laughs. We, the audience, are not unfeeling about the feelings of the performers, but seated so close to the people on stage, we felt they were not performers, and we were not observers, but that we were all participants in their lives. In addition, every prop had a purpose and was soon followed by a quip about it. Every actor delivered every punchline with exquisitely perfect timing.
The next scene takes place a week later. May is still schlepping around the house depressed in her night clothes when Hank (William Mahone), a white-haired bachelor cum local banker, and his mother’s fellow mugger, pays May a part visit/part business call. He knows her husband left her, which she disputes, but he knows that Brian withdrew half of the money in their account. Hearing that, we, the audience, breathe a sigh of relief. Brian isn’t a total no-goodnik. We consider withdrawing half of the savings very fair. Hank invites her to be his date at an upcoming Halloween costume party. Hank was told she already had a costume by the townie who designed and created it. May refuses, but later agrees to go.
May’s other suitor Quin (Ben Prayz) appears next. He’s what my mother would have described as an incomplete person. He’s most in need of a place to sleep. His current abode has become too cold, and the cow he shares the barn with has become too seductive. He knows May’s B&B needs fixing up and he agrees to do so in return for her finding an indoor bed. She and Quin agree on the list and the die is cast.
While piecing her life back together, May must decide what she wants. Will it be bachelor number one, the nerdy bank manager; bachelor number two, the brooding handyman; or number three, her unfaithful husband? I’ll never tell. Finding out for yourself will be lots of fun.
The four actors have impressive resumes and have been perfectly paired by director Mariah Reed, who has been a theater director for over 30 years. She’s also a tenured acting professor at Broward college. Also, Ardean Landuis’s sets and Preston Bircher’s lighting couldn’t have been better.
But I do want to add that every one of the 37 ticket holders left holding the hand of their special other, both with beaming smiles on their faces.
The Affections of May. Through March 31 will be performed at The Empire Stage (1140 Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale). www.pigsdoflyproductions.com
Photos: Carol Kassie
