Montreal theatres celebrate milestones

Geordie celebrates 35th and PSC its 10th

By Byron Toben

Two theatre gems in Montreal are the Geordie Children’s theatre, now in its 35th year, and the PSC (Pointe St-Charles) community theatre, its 10th. They both marked their anniversaries recently with engaging but all too short runs, reviewed below.

Beethoven Lives Upstairs – Geordie Productions.

B.Toben reviews Beethoven
(Could not resist that intro as our names sound similar and Ludwig’s symphonies are my favourite).

This play had its origins in a popular children’s audiotape made into a 1992 TV film shown around the world. Geordie toured it a few years back and has restaged it as the last show under artistic director Dean Patrick Fleming’s 10-year reign, since succeeding founding director Elsa Bolam.

All in all, polished acting, crisp body movement and wonderful music that appealed to adults and children alike.

The top-notch cast featured Alec McCooeye as the composer, who rented an apartment in Vienna from Leni Parker, the widowed mother of rambunctious 10-year-old Chistoph (Lucinda Davis). The lad initially can’t stand the late night pounding of the deaf genius as he creates above. He complains by letter to his uncle in a different city (Quincy Armorer). Eric Hausknost as Schindler, Beethoven’s publisher, appears from time to time, but cannot soothe the exasperated tot.

Christoph gradually warms to Ludwig, capped by a great scene where the 6’7’’ McCooeye conducts an imaginary 9th symphony on a stormy riverbank, in a visual that conjures up the equally tall Nicola Tesla demonstrating his command of electrical power to investors a century later. Ms. Davis, who has played God (twice) displays her versatility as a petulant boy… lots of stomping and demanding. This bookends the imperiousness of the genius himself, who dismisses a fawning royal courtier with “There are many princes, but only one Beethoven.”

Local audiences may recall Keir Cutler’s Fringe hit a few years ago, Ludwig Van Lunatic, and Brave New Productions’ replication of the Broadway hit 33 Variations last May.

All in all, polished acting, crisp body movement and wonderful music that appealed to adults and children alike.

Dah, duh duh dum…

Beethoven Lives Upstairs ended at Concordia’s D.B. Clarke on May 8.

Play on – PSC Community theatre

The Pointe St-Charles community theatre is the very example of a model local dramatic group. What slick polish its talented amateurs may sometimes lack, it makes up in enthusiasm and an infectious esprit de corps.

Housed in a onetime bank building owned by McGill Architecture prof, Pieter Sijpes, and limited in funds, they have attracted a loyal core following to the tiny 60-seat venue. The outfit was started 10 years ago by local realtor Peggie Hopkins, who often acts in the productions as well. A key supporter is Fergus Keyes, a member of the Centaur Theatre board.

If you have ever seen the classic film The Guffman Five about the travails of an amateur group theatre, the many “in” jokes ring true.

Play On by Rick Abbot is a play within a play. This ploy on plays has other precedents. Some are classical… Shakespeare with Hamlet and Midsummer’s Night Dream, Chekov with The Sea Gull and recently, Stoppard with The Real Thing and Frayn with Noises Off. My own favourite is Cole Porter’s musical Kiss Me, Kate based on The Taming of The Shrew.

This show is a take off on a British drawing room murder mystery, à la Agatha Christie. John Lawson portrays host Lord Dudley, given to “Pshaws” and “Fiddlesticks” all with a veddy upper class accent. Lady Dudley (Violetta Vasiliauskas) bosses her daughter, Jessica Kennedy, engaged (sort of) to Gerry Smith, a doctor, but attracted to Greg Hamilton.

This crew is rehearsing Murder Most Foul, a work by playwright Phyllis Montague (Peggie Hopkins), who is always making text changes up to opening night. The whole is directed by exasperated Catherine Sargent as everything that can go wrong does… from ringing of the telephone to props being in their proper pockets or drawers. All this is centered upon a cursed jewel from India that morphs from a ruby to a diamond to a white ruby.

If you have ever seen the classic film The Guffman Five about the travails of an amateur group theatre, the many “in” jokes ring true.

The PSC theatre outdoes our big houses in one respect. The price of admission includes a post show buffet after each performance, not just opening night.

Play On ended on May 8.

Keep current at psccommunity.com

Images: Beethoven Lives Upstairs –         ; Play On – courtesy PSC Community theatre.

Byron Toben is the immediate past-president of the Montreal Press Club