Across Canada, audiences seem to gear up with anticipation whenever a Norm Foster play comes to town – and they won’t be disappointed with Old Love, playing now until Nov. 1 at Theatre Orangeville.
As an added bonus, Foster, widely regarded as the country’s most prolific comic playwright, also stars in the production as Bud, a persistent divorcee who wants nothing more than to woo the recently widowed Molly.
Despite Bud’s obvious comedic charm, his romantic aspirations seem doomed from the beginning.
Molly, played by Brenda Bazinet, cannot even recall meeting Bud, an employee in her husband’s company, a handful of times over the years. And hitting on Molly minutes after her husband is laid to rest certainly doesn’t help Bud’s cause.
But he won’t give up, launching an all out campaign to win Molly’s love that, in classic Foster style, manages to trudge the fine line between courting and all-out stalking.
The final outcome may be predictable, but the journey is ingenious and hilarious.
Both Foster and Bazinet deliver countless lines that leave the audience in stitches. The majority of the one-liners may be provided for Foster, but it is Bazinet who delivers, without question, the funniest line in the play – a shockingly frank condemnation of what many assume about older women embarking on new relationships.
One of the best lines many will ever hear in a play, it is also an integral part of a scene that expertly and humourously tackles a very difficult subject: the unrealistic, asexual expectations many people place on those who take part in “old love.”
Molly outwardly condemns the unfair stereotypes and other attempts to strip older adults of their independence – she opines that “granny flats” are where mothers go to die – but at the same time she has extreme difficulty acting on her admirable defiance.
Bazinet is great as the conflicted Molly, not to mention the three or four other small roles that she and Foster take on.
She is remarkably adept, through both comedic and dramatic moments, at evoking sympathy from audience members who, regardless of their age, share Molly’s fear and apprehension about aging.
And while Foster will always be recognized first and foremost as an exceptional writer, his acting talents are clearly underrated and under appreciated.
He is nothing short of a comedic genius on stage, delivering lines with perfect poise and timing, all the while managing to deliver a poignant performance during scenes that demand a straight face.
Bazinet and Foster have amazing chemistry together, seamlessly guiding the audience through a two-player production that spans three decades, with many different backdrops.
It is very hard to identify any negative aspects of Old Love, but there were a few. It seems almost sacrilegious to criticize anything Foster does in theatre, but during the preview show on Oct. 15 his first few lines were delivered a touch too fast, even for Bud, who constantly feels the need to ramble on about something.
And one cannot help but think the minimalist set design by Steve Lucas, though obviously labour intensive and requiring much attention to detail, could be improved.
But those small imperfections are not nearly enough to detract from yet another hilarious, heart warming Foster production that’s expertly directed by David Nairn and played by top-notch actors with outstanding comedic flair.
Old Love plays six shows a week (Wednesdays through Sundays) until Nov. 1.
For tickets call 519-942-3423 or 1-800-424-1295 or visit theatre-orangeville.ca.
