REVIEW
Daddy’s Girl
St. Albert Dinner Theatre
Runs Feb. 14 to 16 and 21 to 23
Kinsmen Banquet Hall
47 Riel Dr.
Tickets: $60 regular, $55 senior/student. Call 780-222-0102 or at www.stalberttheatre.com
Looking for a heartwarming production to counteract the arctic high hanging over our city? Check out St. Albert Dinner Theatre’s latest production.
Daddy’s Girl is funny, touching and, at times, quite silly. But there is a genuineness to playwright Gary Ray Stapp’s script that makes the characters easily recognized kindred spirits – even if they are a touch on the eccentric side.
Here’s a sampler: the shirtless man, a leathery motorcycle mama sporting tattoos, a mischievous angel, a talking portrait, and two matchmaking old ladies who finish each other’s sentences.
What makes the play so enjoyable is seeing aspects of family and friends within the characters, and the tricky dynamics that make those relationships work.
And without being ham-handed, the two-act show spreads a gentle message about the importance of living in the present and appreciating those who enrich our lives.
The comedy unfolds in an authentic vintage diner complete with a red leather booth, countertop tables and swivel chairs. On loan from Keith Bramley, a Fort Saskatchewan restaurateur, the bona fide restaurant furniture immediately transports you to a small-town diner. All that’s missing is the smell of french fries and hamburgers.
It’s an ordinary day for Benard Muloovy, owner and chief cook of Maudie’s Diner, named after his late wife. Maudie died 25 years ago, but she is still present in Benard’s life as a talking portrait.
After Maudie died, he was forced to give up their baby daughter, Elizabeth. Although his decision took place 25 years go, he still laments the loss and his grief has yielded a cantankerous old grouch.
As Maudie tells him early in the game, “You’re a sad, lonely man and it’s time you move on with your life.”
She pairs up with Michaela, an impish angel, and their mission is to reunite Benard with their long-lost daughter. True to her trickster nature, Michaela throws a wrench in the reunion by providing not one, but two Elizabeths.
Despite having survived two painful traumas in life, the town curmudgeon is unprepared for the collision course of personalities that invade his life.
As Benard, Cory Christensen is exceptional. The role fits the veteran actor seamlessly and Christensen never overplays his character’s crustiness while simultaneously pulling back and revealing Benard’s vulnerabilities. Yes, the cook’s prickly exterior reveals a softie, who despite his many rules, leaves bags of food at the restaurant’s back door for the hungry.
Although Daddy’s Girl is very much about Benard’s transformation, director Lori Chenger emphasizes the script’s ensemble quality, giving every actor a moment in the spotlight.
With 13 in the cast, it could be difficult. However, this is a tight-knit cast with an easygoing chemistry.
Sarah Louise as the beautiful, young Maudie Muloovy delightfully spars with Benard and keeps him grounded, while Christine Gold as Michaela infuses her character with a devilish streak that draws all eyes towards her every move.
Lauren Tamke as the conniving, elegant and condescending food writer dedicated to stealing Benard’s secret recipe is the delicious villain you love to hate. Meanwhile, Tia Yakubowich as shy Lizzy has vocals to spare and delivered an incredible belt that garnered rounds of thunderous applause.
Patti Hammerlindl is the big-hearted Darlynn, a woman determined to attract Benard’s attention by constantly changing outfits – a trick she learned on Oprah. Despite his non-stop rebuffs, she keeps trying and everyone keeps rooting for her.
Rob Beeston, a master of broad gestures, manages to make Alex, a slick slimeball, into a fairly charming ladies’ man. Another charmer is Tim Kubasek as Shirtless Bob, a relaxed dude who always breaks Benard’s “no shoes, no shirt, no service” rule.
There are several romances going on, but the cutest couple is Karson Magus’ Walter, a lovestruck PhD student whose voice chokes whenever Ashlyn Shaw’s Betsy, the sweet, but forgetful waitress, takes his order.
Daddy’s Girl is humorous and quirky with plenty of heart. It runs from Feb. 14 to 16 and Feb. 21 to 23 at Kinsmen Banquet Hall in St. Albert.
