WBffBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY,ý APRIL 29, 1992. PAGE il Mime art subject of gallery lecture REVIEWS Courthouse. Theatre's 'Room service' is chaotic lcomedy By Marlo Boucher Chactie comedy is -offered'by the Whitby Couthouse-Theatre. in their current production,, 'Room Service. e 1ý* -Watching lepiay is* akin Wt followin the actvities o their an&i1s ati Once the characters are estabi- is3hed, action i.the Courthouse Theatre's final play cf the season accelerates inW a non-stop, frenetic pace heightened 4y the movement cà ? the actors i and out cf a hotel room, agr eat set design by Deb Srnih Schregar- dus. < 11om 'Service ' written b John Murray anc1 Allen Brtz, is about a theatre prodcerwho lives at an old hotel where he is trying Wo stage a play. Gordon Miler, well-played by Rockford Varcoe, is peniniles way ov erdue.on paying bisebotel biff and trying to get financial ba Sngohis play. Gregory Wger, aiso, played Wo the hlt b H bycrega- dus, spends tehe entire play brea- thig down Milleril neck i an attempt W gÉet the money the producerowes Wo the hotel. And- Miller has, on the 19th floo, cf, the hotel, a cast cf 19 actre 'U t appear ithe aVa=arance cf the plas author LcDai, lyd by Scottôifn sets up amaze cf ýconfusionivclving many charac- Atfirst, the fast pace works againiat the play - there are toc anch aatersitroducd and it takes the'entire first act'tW beccme immeïsed in the'stor. .What-follown, howeverais h calibre entertainment, and t h e enthusiastie performances easily sweep the audience into, the funi. There. are a few delightful scenes, cf coznedy,,one cf them involving three 'charactersý putting on many layers cf clothes. ., mhe play* resembles. Hol- ywo'a old screball Icomedy fims and it's easy Wo see how the Marx Brothers had a romp with this production, silly but lots cf fun. In fact, the Courthouse cast, i a few scenes, could have toned down their performances juà t a bit tW avoid overactirng. As well, some cf the funny parts are missed because thi. actors talk toc fast or toc loud at times. But then there are moments that require.overacting and bighý avir d Eabjohn, as Faker Engl nd, ear the end cf the play. sure knows how W «cry» Oiveraîl, Joan Roarntre. succeeds i her first crack at directing. mhe play continues April 30 Wo May 2 and May 7 Wé 9, curtain time 8 p.m., ini the 'Centennial Buildin. Ticket are $7 on Thursdays and $9 on Fridaýys and Saturdaýys and are available at Lafontaine Trading Post in downtown WVhitby. *The. Lanxdscape Art cf David Mime' is the subiject of a spcal' slide< lectdre at, theRober McLaughlin Gallery on May 7 at 8 p.m. mhe' lecture will be cof particular interest to those who saw the Mimneexhibition at the McMichael Gallery-lastfall or to those who aà re-intending "t'Osee the~ exhibition 'at' the Nationial Gallery in Ottawa this, summer, though a. nyone interested in Canadian artand in wvatercolour or cfil technique ý.,will find it Guest speaker Laura. Carney, professor cf Canadian art at. the University cf Toronto, has spenta numÃber cf-,years eerhnoh artist and bis work., She is, the author of several articles and a catalogue on Milne, and has contributed one sectionh Wo the cataogue tlat accompanies the travellig exhibition. Everyone 15 învited 1W olearn more about Milne, who painted in the Palgrave andÃŽ Bancrft areas durig his- ýlifetime. Admission is, $3 for . gallery members, '$S for others. There will be aspecial drawfor twofree passes W Cullà 'en dens ,and Miniature' Village, 'courtesy of OCullen Gardens,at the end c the OLT's Com pany' offers ýhumiourous look at marriage 'Company,, currently being presented by the Oshawa Little Theatre, mixes music and. com- edy as it explores varioup 'rela- tionsbips, mostly marriage ia New York City settig. For the. most»part, the play is entertaining if not always parti- cularly insightful ,ith apc that suits the P~sme~ rodit portrays and with smre standout comic performances. The central' character- is Robert, played by David Laing, a sigle 35-year-old -whoserient fieinds are five coupes. Throug Robert, visitin -hias frienda, oset f marriage are play;ej frlaughs, while i other scenes, Robert wrestles with bis1 own relationships and degree,cf com- mitment. The play is well-staged, with a mmimnum of stage decoration and prcps and an emphasis on« character. me musical nuinbers ý the 'company are. strong -- though of ten tdhe. lyrics, essen- tial as, accompaniment Wo the play's action are lest i the music - eitAer through weak vocalization, or suffocated by the orchestra. Laing is gnerally able Wo con- vey the confused stateocf midcf bis character who seems 'Wt want Wo get married but is uncertain about givingý up b is carefree sin- gle life. Louise, Lukianchuk made ber Oshawa Little Theatre debut as Sarah, and- she turnsei a comic performnance that makes, one hope ,she will be a regular perfor- mer. mhe ame' is true cf Lou Burgess, -another newcomer Wo Oshawa ILittle-Theatre, who is qp lendid hi voice, and ca' -ooa mfenny, and who l'alIsedirago job nstaging the musical numn- Janet'- Stevenson doniiated whenever she was o tge iM her 'role as brash outspokn Joanine. Mary bju«dajam del*i. vered perhaps the best moments cof the play as, Amy, frantic, hesitant and honest juat before marriage, but finally aware cf the good 'company' W b. certain i marriage with Paul (played with engaging vigour by Chris Davies). «Company' continues April 30, Ma123,7, 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 62 Russett Ave. Baxter Productions Mini Pshychic Fair TAROT CARDS.t. CLAIRVOYANCE ASTROLOGY MUCH MORE ApriI 293,30 May1, 2 Duidos St.,E. Wed.l11am -7pm l ~Thurs. &I Fr1. il11arnm 9:3Opmn E-'l,