REVIEW
The Trouble with Cats
St. Albert Dinner Theatre
Runs Feb. 17 to 19
Kinsmen Banquet Hall
47 Riel Drive
Tickets: $55 to $60 Visit www.stalberttheatre.com
A skittish homeowner, three very opposite couples, three bickering home renovators, a mystery man, and a loner make up the premise for The Trouble with Cats running Feb. 17 to 19 at Kinsmen Banquet Centre.
The two-act play is yet another of Gary Ray Stapp's quirky yet heartfelt stories produced by St. Albert Dinner Theatre that boasts the Kansas playwright's farcical stylings.
In this production, Stapp envisions two couples' dream vacation turns into a nightmare. Phillip Julian, a stuffy writer, and his wife Ivy are experienced house sitters who vacation looking after other people's homes. Their plans include boating, fishing, and writing.
Unfortunately for them, the homeowner has booked two couples as house sitters. While the Julians exude a mature polish, their counterparts, Sunshine and River, are vegan, yoga-loving hippies.
Both have signed contracts. Neither party budges. Barging into the house is the next-door neighbour, the flirtatious Joy Bombay and her husband Nelson, a persistent trivia buff and fact finder determined to win big on a game show.
Adding to the confusion are the three Cheshire sisters renovating the master bedroom. Mitzy is the group foreman who enjoys fringe benefits with her ex. No (Noelle) is a nun who left her order and Onie is a naive innocent.
Even as the clash of titans grows to a crescendo, co-directors Bob Beddow and Rob Beeston focus on shaping a production that is sincere, friendly, and even-paced. They carry through Stapp's message about evolving relationships whether they are with spouses, partners, friends, neighbours, or strangers.
Although the playwright’s message is heartwarming, some of Stapp’s dialogue is clunky. However, the 12-member cast has transcended the weak material in a way that is completely enjoyable.
Kudos to Beeston who does double duty as both co-director and Phillip Julian, a taxing role that requires a sympathetic response from the audience despite some of his distasteful comments. Phillip comes across as a cranky stuff-shirt with tunnel vision who has long forgotten the ideals of youth. Beeston has fine-tuned the craft of setting up punch lines and he performs full tilt.
Ruth Kult as Ivy, the calmer, more-open minded spouse, is a perfect match. Kult's Ivy is firm but loving. She keeps Phillip in line and welcomes the young couple. It is her warmth, compassion, and inner motherly strength that thaws the trajectory of everyone's relationship.
Priscilla Dhaussy returns as the Sunshine, the chakra-worshipping hippie who encourages everyone to join meditation sessions. She’s quirky, loosey-goosey, and fun to watch. Matt Morrison as River, Sunshine’s chocolate loving partner, thrives on butting heads with Phillip. The duo’s snappy sarcasm and pointed barbs evoke images of a father-son relationship and provide some of the play’s funniest lines.
Myra Ferris lights up the stage as the older booze-swilling, cigarette-dangling Joy Bombay. Unabashedly flirtatious, Joy makes the moves on the younger muscular River, blending chutzpah and believability into humour.
Tim Kubasek is back as Joy’s meek husband, Nelson, who bores everyone with trivia. Kubasek’s big challenge is making sure the audience remains interested in this quieter character. Kubasek pulls it off by keeping the audience second-guessing what Nelson will say next.
Nadine Hunt, a storytelling stand-up comedian and a first-time actor with the local community theatre, was one of the bright lights on stage. As Mitzy Cheshire, the renovation foreman, Hunt is a natural who connects easily with the audience. Completely believable as Mitzy, Hunt exudes a no-nonsense authority, patience with her lopsided crew, and a zany humour in tough situations.
Oh yes, and if you’re wondering about the cat, it never shows up. But there are running feline jokes throughout the play.
The Trouble with Cats has many satisfying moments. However, Stapp tacked on a short, head-scratching ending that does little if anything to bring the plot full circle. All in all, it was a good night to chase away the blues.
