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ENTERTAINMENT Sensuous Senator a fun-filled romp TED BROWN Staff Writer While sex and politics are nothing new, patrons to The Sensuous Senator, which opened at John Elliott Theatre Thursday night, could enjoy the antics up close and personal. In the first local production of the Castaways Comedy Production group (who have relocated to Georgetown from their origins in Brampton) the plot centers around the antics of Senator Harry Douglas as he carries on a fairly ambitious extramarital sex drive, while campaigning to become the next US president-- under a platform of selfrighteous family morality and undying fidelity to his wife Lois. But the minute Lois is bound for a two-day trip out of town, Harry's platform is tossed out the window in a heartbeat. The result is an apartment filled with comings and goings of scantily clad women, Harry's virginal nephew Jack Maguire and the old morality chief Congressman Clyde C. Salt, who has just publicly supported Harry's bid to be president. Meanwhile a muck-raking reporter Betty Morrison, of the National Intruder, is trying hr best to catch Harry in the act of immorality and infidelity-- of which she has scads of opportunities. Toss an overprotective security chief into the mix, a sexy call girl and Harry's secretary (his after-hours squeeze) as well as Harry's wife Lois, whose flight was cancelled due to fog, and the stage is set for mistaken identities, many bodies hiding under the bed and in the closet, and lots of laughs. The play is funny-- no doubt about it. Blake Miles is great as the scheming Senator Douglas, seemingly able to not only con his electorate, but also the rest of his close associates and even his wife. Huw Evans plays the hapless nephew Jack Maquire and is a perfect fit beside Miles's over-confident attitude. Pat Brown is the epitome of staunch morality as Lois Douglas, and Steve Chicorli is a rock as the pure-asdriven-snow Congressman Salt. Kim Evans demands stage presence as the incredibly sexy call girl Fiona, and Jennifer Beagle garners lots of laughs as she plays secretary Veronica. The inept Captain South, who takes his job waaay too seriously, was well played by Sean O'Brien, and Sarah Hudson handles a relatively small part as one of the reporters in the press conference. The cast was well-balanced with no actor out shining another, and lines were delivered on cue. Perhaps the one thing that was a bit tiring was the running around the stage of people slipping in and out of doors, under beds and to another room. After a while it became old hat. Opening night of the show was in aid of Gilda's Club of Toronto-- a cancer support group, named after late comedienne Gilda Radner, for those suffering from the disease as well as members of their families. The first production of Castaways Comedy Productions is a short run, only four performances. But as a sample of what's to come in future productions, the people of Halton Hills certainly will have another choice of stage production to enjoy in the future. (Ted Brown can be reached at tbrown@independentfreepress.com) BOB McDONALD CBC science whiz at JET October 17 Bob McDonald goes from the Pit to the Peak The Halton Hills Library & Cultural Centre marks its silver anniversary this month with a nineday celebration of the arts event "Celebrating Silver ... Going for Gold". The Halton Hills Library & Cultural Centre has been the centre of cultural activity in Halton Hills for the past 25 years, and is the perfect venue to host the celebrations that will occur between Friday, October 13 and Sunday, October 22. As part of the celebration, one of Canada's best-known science journalists-- Bob McDonald-- brings his presentation The Pit to the Peak: Extreme Canadian Science to Halton Hills. A traveler's tale from the depths of a nickel mine in Sudbury where neutrinos are captured, to the peak of the world's largest mountain, Canadian science is at the forefront of scientific investigation. This highly-respected science journalist and host of CBC's Quirks & Quarks and Science Fare brings his own experiences to the stage of the John Elliott Theatre in a fascinating multi-media presentation. McDonald makes complex science issues easy to understand. He has recently been nominated for two Gemini Awards and the awards will be announced at the show on October 17. To find out more about Bob McDonald, visit his website at www.speakers.ca/mcdonald_bob. For ticket and show information please visit the Town of Halton Hills website at www.haltonhills.ca. Tickets are on sale now through the John Elliott Theatre Box Office at 905-877-3700.