THEATRE:
Tales for
midsummer nights

The Bard, Norm Foster, Googlewhacking and more sizzlin' stage

by AMY BARRATT

If a summer theatre preview this year seems like a matter of rounding up the usual suspects, it is. But in some cases, the fact that said suspects are still around is news in itself. At least two companies of long standing - Repercussion and the Piggery - have been in danger of disappearing in the last couple of years. Both are alive and well and living in Montreal and North Hatley, respectively.

Shakespeare-in-the-Park specialist Repercussion Theatre is back to the bona fide Bard this year after last summer's comedy revue that was supposed to be Shakespeare's "lost play." Beginning in mid-July, they will be presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream in parks around the island. The production is set in New France - Expo 1767, as the press release says - but with overtones of the flower-power generation. Confused yet? Check the performance schedule online at www.repercussiontheatre.com.

The Piggery is now being run by a company called Townships Stage, with Sunil Mahtani as artistic director. They open their season with as near to a sure thing as you can get in Canadian theatre, a Norm Foster play. All the action in Foursome, about college chums reunited 15 years later, is set on a golf course.

The remainder of the Piggery season consists of Oh, Coward!, the original Noel Coward musical revue devised by Roderick Cook, and Kingfisher Days, a gentle tale of one little girl's magical summer, by Soulpepper actress Susan Coyne. See www.townshipsstage.com.

OUT OF THE OFFICE

Village Theatre West in Hudson is also kicking off the summer with Norm Foster. Office Hours, like Foursome, is opening next week. Directed by VTW's artistic director Andrew Johnston, it's set in six different offices on the same Friday afternoon. Next up is yet another musical revue, this one featuring the songs of Rogers and Hammerstein. A Grand Night for Singing opens July 7. Finally, a brand new play by Montreal's own Colleen Curran (who may not be as well known as Norm Foster, but should be). In Casa de Mary Margaret, opening August 10, a larger-than-life personality named Margaret Connolly has won a trip to Mexico… and Mexico will never be the same. For more info on Village Theatre's season, visit www.villagetheatre.ca.

The line-up at Théâtre Lac Brome features the English premiere of Les Papillons de nuit by Michel Marc Bouchard, translated as Night Butterflies by Linda Gaboriau. The repertory season also includes Somerset Maugham's biting comedy Home and Beauty, and Geordie's production of Mary's Wedding. Check www.theatrelacbrome.ca.

Meanwhile, back in the city, the Just for Laughs comedy festival can always be counted on for a little theatre. This year, they've got the intriguing Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure, opening July 13 at Centaur Theatre. Googlewhacking is an Internet… game, would you call it? Pastime? Life's work?… where you have to come up with two words which, when entered into the Google search engine, will elicit just one result. As to how this led to Dave Gorman travelling the world and meeting all sorts of people, you'll just have to see the show to find out. JFL is also presenting comedian John Pinette in his one-person show I Say, Nay Nay. At the Salle du Gesù, July 19 to 24. For info on all festival shows, visit www.hahaha.com.

The New Classical Theatre Fest follows up the success of its inaugural year with two productions at the Saidye B Off-Centre. Gravy Bath Productions presents Kali Yuga, written by Anthony Kokx and Madd Harold, and directed by Madd Harold. SaBooge Theatre presents Fathom. The two shows will run in repertory August 3–19. Check www.gravybath.com.