Review of ‘The Ladies Foursome’ – put online by The Era
Burke shows a ‘gifted hand’
directing ‘Ladies Foursome’
By Rod Urquhart
The venerable Newmarket Stage Company’s presentation of ‘The Ladies Foursome’ opened last Thursday night with quite the flourish at Stage 426 Newmarket Legion and definitely scored a ‘hole in one!’
With a gifted hand, seasoned director Jeff Burke guided some spirited acting from Joanna Kaufman as Dory, Susan Lane as Margo, Jo-Anne Pulfer as Tate and Julie Wood as Connie. As the play unfolds, with much interaction between the four of them, no one actor was a standout with all four shining brightly in their own right.
Taking place on an actual golf course, playing a round of 18 holes, after the death of their fourth, three women take to the golf course to honour her and are joined by a woman they’ve never met. Friendships tested and friendships found, this is one round of golf that you won’t want to miss!
‘The Ladies Foursome ‘ is scripted by Canada’s most produced playwright Norm Foster, and produced by seasoned veteran Sue Meacock. The rather simple yet very effective set is by Peter Salt, with a grand lighting design by Mark Hayward and lights and sound by Sara and Nicole Hayward. Fran Wachna handles the costumes quite nicely.
Act one takes place in the morning on the golf course and the sensational Act Two happens for another nine holes later in the morning. With fast-moving dialogue and lots of humour, sometimes ribald, the women share a colourful round of golf, complete with carrying their golf clubs.
At Opening Night, the appreciative audience clapped after each hole of golf and gave the competent actors a good five minute ovation to show how much they enjoyed this wonderful presentation.
If you ever wondered just what women talk about the golf course, and the revelations that come out of it, ‘The Ladies Foursome’ has it all — even with a dramatic conclusion, but I won’t spoil it for you!
This was only the second time ‘The Ladies Foursome’ has been presented by a community theatre group since it was released for their use last year and the Newmarket Stage Company, even with the limitations of a small Legion stage, do Norm Foster quite proud with a hearty rendition of this fast-paced play, complete with actual golf clubs and swinging of the clubs!
‘The Ladies Foursome’ continues today (May 3) at 2 p.m. and also tonight, May 4 and May 5 at 8 p.m. at the Newmarket Legion, 707 Srigley Street. Tickets are a mere $15 and available at the Box Office at 905-727-3290.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, one would be hard-pressed to find a better gift than to offer to take her to see this uplifting, yet extremely humourous presentation!
Rod Urquhart is author of two humour books – ‘Talk Turkey With Urqey’ and ‘Tales for the Outhouse’ and also a poetry book, entitled ‘Life Lines’. All three are available at the Georgina Art Centre & Gallery and Turn The Page Bookstore, both in Sutton.
The Newmarket Stage Company is very busy working on the last play of this season — The Ladies Foursome — a comedy by Canada’s most produced playwright, and Newmarket native, Norm Foster.