Foster's 'Foursome' taking to Otter Valley stage
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Four school friends head out for a friendly game of golf following their 25th reunion.
One is very much a golfer, one very much not, another wears a pair of pants worthy of the Norwegian men’s Olympic curling team, another dips into a 7 a.m. beer in an attempt to cure a pounding hangover with the ‘hair of the dog that bit him’ the night before.
And all have secrets that will be revealed on the mental and physical journey between the first tee blocks and the 19th hole.
“Catching up on the life they’ve been through in the last 25 years,” explained director Melanie Watts.
Norm Foster’s ‘The Foursome’ is scheduled to open on the Otter Valley Playhouse stage this Thursday (February 6) at 8 p.m., kicking off a Thursday through Saturday evening/Sunday 2 p.m. matinee run for the ensuing two weeks (February 6th through 9th and 13th through 16th). The Theatre Tillsonburg production stars David W. Sandor, Jason Leighfield, John Allen and Dave Deelen as four friends exploring their lives on an unofficial golf course reunion. It is being directed by Watts, produced by Don Fonk with Janet Orr as stage manager.
“I classify it myself as a ‘dramedy,’” said Watts. “It has its comedic moments as well as its dramatic moments. It really does focus on the ups and downs in their lives over the past 25 years.
“It has its funny moments, but it also has its serious moments.”
The four actors bring the play to life across eight tee blocks over a stage extended through what traditionally is the first row of Otter Valley Playhouse seating. All are Theatre Tillsonburg veterans, Sandor familiar in part for his ‘day job’ at Glendale high school, Leighfield a Brownsville native who lives in town, and Deelen and Allen from Delhi and St. Thomas, respectively.
“They really, truly have been a pleasure to work with,” said Watts. “They’ve become a very close-knit team.”
The Foursome is Theatre Tillsonburg’s second production of a season that opened with Stepping Out and will conclude with Plaza Suite in May. The Foursome is a Western Ontario Drama League Festival Entry for Theatre Tillsonburg, with Friday’s performance to be adjudicated by league critics.
Based in part on the fact the ‘golf course’ is extending into the regular seating area, as well as the ongoing popularity of Theatre Tillsonburg productions, Watts suggests reserving ahead to avoid disappointment.
“Buy your tickets while they’re still available,” she encouraged.
Individual tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, and available either through the Otter Valley Playhouse box office (519-688-3026) or Tillsonburg’s Station Arts Centre (519-842-6151).