Silk, satin, lace and feathers. Senior citizen Sylvia Charles revels in these sensual fabrics. As a lingerie boutique owner, she makes and sells sexy nighties, teddies, baby dolls and camisoles to women approaching their senior years.
Since seniors enjoying sex is a hot topic for comedy, playwright Katherine DiSavino makes a good argument for her saucy romp, Nana’s Naughty Knickers. DiSavino has cobbled together a romantic comedy about a widow who reinvented her life helping older women spice up their sex lives.
St. Albert Dinner Theatre’s two-act production takes place Feb. 15-17 at Kinsmen Banquet Centre on Riel Drive.
At age 83, Sylvia is at the top of her game. She’s a red-hot grandma and a feisty businesswoman widowed for several years. She first moved into her rent-controlled apartment just a few steps away from New York’s Central Park 60 years ago. The spacious apartment is currently the centre of her enterprise, Saucy Slips, Etc.
Sylvia has kept her enterprise private from Vera, a snoopy and hard-of-hearing best friend. There’s also a helpful street cop named Tom, and her tight-fisted landlord, Gil Schmidt, who wants to evict her from the rent-controlled apartment.
Everything clicks along smoothly until Bridget, her law student granddaughter, visits for the summer. Nana’s secretive activities quickly become suspicious, and Bridget is convinced Nana is hiding something big.
Dedicated to upholding the law while protecting her grandmother, the young woman panics after discovering Nana’s intimate apparel venture. Bridget realizes Nana could be nailed for tax evasion while Schmidt is also entitled to break her lease for illegally operating a business on the premises. Problems ramp up in the second act when a mysterious package containing dominatrix paraphernalia arrives.
Carolyn McGratton (Wrong Window and The Odd Couple) plays Sylvia as a shrewd businesswoman with a soft spot for those she cares about. McGratton’s Nana is funny, empathetic, clever and optimistic about life. She’s that special someone you would want in your corner.
While Nana has a serious side, her loopy friend Vera steals the spotlight every time she’s onstage. Played by Myrna Ferris (The Trouble With Cats), Vera is the ultimate comic foil who tackles problems without thinking. This role was made for Ferris’ natural comedic talent, whether it’s thumping across the stage leaning on a walker or modelling wild lingerie for a website.
Tim Kubasek (The Odd Couple, The Two Timers), once again makes his mark as Gil Schmidt, the conniving landlord. Kubasek dips into his funny-man toolkit to shape a buffoonish bad guy who in the end is willing to forgo evicting Sylvia in exchange for a happy marriage.
Kristy Baron, who returns after her performance in The Odd Couple, gives a hilarious performance of Heather Van Pree, a leather-clad dominatrix wearing stilettos and black lipstick. Just by making her first hip-swivelling entrance, she garnered the first of many laughs.
Hannah Moerman makes her debut performance at SADT as Bridget Charles. The actor slips into the skin of her straight-arrow character trying to keep her grandmother’s illegal enterprise hidden from the authorities. At the same time, she flirts with Officer Tom, a helpful and hunky street cop.
Roderick E. D.Barrett tackles the role of Tom, a police officer who would rather help than arrest folks on his beat. But it’s tough when the building landlord tries to recruit him as a spy, or the woman he crushes on barely notices him. Tom is a likeable but confused guy and that’s due to Barrett’s confidence in playing a gentle, stand-up guy.
Kelly Krause (Wrong Window, The Odd Couple) is a great example of a small speaking role being memorable. He is the UPS guy who enters delivering a series of mysterious packages. Laurie Borle (The Dangers of VD) as Claire delivers a commanding presence and Joanne Poplett is the bored intercom voice.
In addition to the show’s 10 actors, the play’s mysterious set also becomes an important character that drives much of the action. Kudos to set designer Donna Beeston’s innovative build.
For tickets call 780-222-0102 or visit stalberttheatre.com.
