Arts & Entertainment

Love is Strange Presented by UPEI Theatre Society Reviewed by Nancy

Picture it - Friday night November 16, 1990 and I’m not at a club! I’m at the MacKenzie Theatre seeing the university production of the musical drama "Love is Strange". This play is inspired by the case of a Saskatchewan farmer who was an obsessed fan of Anne Murray.

In the first act, Colby, the main character, played by Eugene Sauve, is in court because he broke his probation to stay away from the Anne Murray-like character Linda Barrie (Miriam Naylor).

The second act takes place in a mental hospital, then returns to the courtroom. Funny, from one nuthouse to another.

Anyway, so I’ve read the program. I feel cultural. I’m getting into it. My only mistake is that I’m not wearing black. The ambience (what a groovy word) is casual. The stage is not elaborately set but it works. I hate crowded sets. I’m tense because I’ve never reviewed a play before, plus I’ve been on the "other" side as an actor. I’m afraid I won’t like the play. I must ignore my fears because the play is beginning. The lights fade and I! watch with anticipation. After a few minutes my fears are put to rest because this is a great show. I especially like the performance of the judge (Tracey Landry), Cord (Craig Cormier), Rick (Bobbi Jo Doyle) and C.G. Rand (Tory Thorkelson). I like the judge’s dry humour which is realistic and in character. Cord is a wild and "very" crazy guy in the mental hospital. He’s funny because he reminds one of the loony tune bad guy cartoon in the straight jacket in the movie "Who framed Roger Rabbit?". Rick is an autograph collector who adds some laughs and the psychiatrist-au-Freud is hilarious. Is that a real beard? I wonder.

Actually, all the actors are playing their parts well. Now, about the main characters. I’m thinking that

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Linda Barrie (Miriam Naylor) sings very well and very low. Barrie lulls the audience through about eight songs (maybe more, maybe less) during the play. Her voice must be tired but I can’t tell because she sounds as fresh in the last song as she did in the first song. Colby (Sauve) is the former fella who thinks that Linda loves him back. | realize that he is disturbed when he thinks he’s somebody else. I feel sympathy for him. Eugene Sauve has a lot of lines and he’s not forgetting them and he’s acting at the same time. I’m impressed.

Now the Strange Love play is over and I’m listening to the all nighter on CIMN and writing a review. By looking at the theatre program again a lot of work was put into this play. "Love is Strange" was well organized, the acting was commendable and the music was played and sung well. I wish I could have been a part of it.

Well, gotta go cuz the nightclubs are-a-callin’!!

The UPEI X-Press

November 22, 1990