GORE BAY—Gore Bay Theatre opened its summer season last week with two outstanding productions, ‘Separate Beds,’ a romantic comedy by Maryjane Cruise and ‘The Woman in Black,’ a spine-chilling thriller adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill.
One word, brilliant, and one expression, a tour de force, describe both theatrical experiences. The plays are entirely different, but have one thing in common: performances that are stunning.
Last Friday, ‘Separate Beds’ played to an appreciative sold-out dinner theatre audience hosted by the Gore Bay Rotary Club. The Rotarians lived up to their reputation of providing a fabulous dinner and dessert.
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Evelyn Cardiff, wrote on the Gore Bay Theatre Facebook page, “Thanks so much, Andrea (Emmerton) and Walter (Maskel) for all the work involved in producing and directing (Separate Beds). Helen and Ray Landry (actors in the production), such a talented pair!”
“And the Rotary Club, as usual, prepared and served a delicious meal. And the dessert was definitely the stuff of dreams!” wrote Ms. Cardiff. “Such a lovely evening, and we are just so fortunate to have these hardworking, creative and dedicated people in our little community.”
‘Separate Beds’ is about two couples, in the autumn of their lives. Ernie, played by Ray Landry, and Twink, played by Helen Landry, are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and their children have sent them on a cruise.
Free of chores and children, they are introduced to exciting people, namely the rich and successful Blake, again played by Ray Landry, and Beth, again played by Helen Landry, who still seem to have a perfect life together after 10 years of marriage. Without giving away the plot this is a hilarious laugh out loud romantic comedy that becomes funnier as it builds toward its heartwarming conclusion.
This is achieved by two incredible performances by Ray and Helen Landry, both award winners at the regional and provincial level. For two hours, two actors with a great deal of experience and talent held the audience to a master class of comedic acting. They changed smoothly from one character to another using excellent comedic timing and sight gags to earn a well-deserved standing ovation.
‘Separate Beds’ is one of those truly entertaining evenings of theatre, true to the saying that laughter is the best medicine.
‘The Woman in Black,’ which hit the stage in front of a large crowd Saturday evening, is a gripping story building with a slow purposeful precision, that grabs you and does not let you go. The experience is unforgettable, one of those rare plays that will stay with you long after the curtain drops. It is easy to see why it played for 33 years in London, England and why the Daily Telegraph said it, “was the most brilliantly spine-chiller you will ever encounter.”
It tells the tale of a lawyer, looking to exorcise the fear that grips his soul, sent by his firm to an isolated estate to attend the funeral of an elderly widow. He is haunted by the events that transpire there and hires an actor to help him tell the story in dramatic fashion for his relatives.
The play is mesmerizing because three skillful and experienced actors are able to navigate this journey into the unexplained. It features Ray Scott who has entertained audiences for the last 20 years at Burns Wharf Theatre. He deftly plays seven different characters in the play within a play, including the tormented lawyer, Mr. Kipps.
He hires an actor, played by John Robertson, to help re-enact his frightening tale. Mr. Robertson has appeared in many Gore Bay Theatre productions and has received numerous awards at the regional and provincial level. His indelible performance will chill the blood.
Again, without giving too much away, Tammy Robinson, the third actor in this phenomenal production, will remain a mystery.
An immediate standing ovation was well deserved for this play.
Dr. Sonja Kahkonen, a chiropractor from Gore Bay and Sudbury, told The Expositor after Saturday’s theatre performance, “It was extremely well performed. I have never seen anything so intense, and I have seen a lot of theatre. There is so much happening with plots and subplots. I will definitely be coming back to see it again. It needs to be seen again.”
The architects of these two entertaining evenings of theatre are co-directors Andrea Emmerton and Walter Maskel. To create two marvelous sets rotating on consecutive nights is an achievement only a few professional theatres have accomplished. The music in ‘Separate Beds’ was toe-tapping and reflected the characters feelings. The complex sound effects for ‘The Woman in Black’ was skillfully arranged by one of Northern Ontario’s most talented sound designers, Isaac Gosse. The thoughtful use of costumes and props in both plays served the actors to a tee.
Both directors voiced their praise for the actor’s dedication required for the intense five-month rehearsal period. Mr. Maskel said, “Helen and Ray Landry travelled from Sudbury to rehearse for three months before their camp opened in Mindemoya, Ray Scott travelled from Big Lake and John Robertson from Lake Kagawong. The commitment and love for the process of creating theatre was evident from all our actors.”
Ms. Emmerton added, “Both Walter and I agree that this is one of our strongest seasons and we are thrilled to offer our audiences two entirely different, yet entertaining evenings of theatre. We are very proud of both productions.”
Mr. Maskel and Ms. Emmerton have directed close to 200 hundred productions, including twenty-eight as co-directors for Gore Bay Theatre. The experience and knowledge required to produce first-rate theatre is obvious from this award-winning group. Gore Bay Theatre is known and respected by its peers across the province.
I highly recommend that you see both productions, especially ‘The Woman in Black,’ not once, but twice, since there is so much happening on stage that a second viewing will help illustrate what you might have missed.
Advance ticket prices for both plays have remained the same for the past 15 years, $20 each, and a matinee performance of each play is offered for the first time this year. Be sure to get yours. Information about dates and tickets are available in the advertisement in this week’s Expositor.
