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directed by Nathan Linders
​
At Venables Theatre, Oliver
February, 2019

Behind the Scenes


What's it About?

​This farcical comedy focuses on Prudence and Bruce, two Manhattanites who are seeking stable romantic relationships with the help of their psychiatrists, each of whom suggests their patient place a personal ad in the newspaper.

Bruce is a highly emotional bisexual who tends to cry easily, a trait Prudence sees as a weakness. Their first meeting proves to be disastrous and the two report back to their respective therapists — lustful Stuart, who once seduced Prudence, and eccentric Charlotte, who stumbles over the simplest of words, who references the play Equus as a good source of advice, and who interacts with her patients with the help of a stuffed Snoopy doll. Clearly the two therapists are more troubled than their patients.

Charlotte suggests a revised ad, which once again attracts Prudence, but this time Prudence and Bruce manage to get past their initial loathing and discover they actually like each other. Complications ensue when Bruce's jealous live-in lover Bob decides to assert himself and do everything possible to maintain his status quo.

Rehearsal January 10


Our Director Speaks Out

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​This very funny script found me last winter, as we were all wearing our thinking caps trying to decide what we would stage for the season. I remember it was as funny as it was daring, and it was a real pleasure to share a summary with the board. Jen, our beloved treasurer, asked me if I was offering to direct it. I replied with a hasty “No.” 

The idea rattled around in my head for a few weeks.  Can SOAP take this kind of content to the stage?  After all, in this age of reason, where acceptable behaviour demands we finally have a little respect and empathy for those among us who do not fit the nuclear family (i.e. ‘breeder’ unions) can we expect to get away with a show which features a same-sex couple, flirting with stereotypes and homophobic barbs? I realized that we had to take this excellent script to the stage. Indeed, I have heard from a few people in the know who felt the script was itself homophobic.
Here’s the thing: Christopher Durang is a gay man who has probably been out longer than I have been alive. Despite the hostile social scape of the 80s, he has been in a monogamous same-sex relationship since 1986. I sincerely doubt Mr. Durang intends this work as homophobic; neither is this an activist piece. It is simply a story with some men who are gay.
​
I invite you to enjoy this show for what it is: a story about relationships where some characters live outside the confines of a traditional family. We took care to preserve the story’s intent by not seeing it through the lens of 2019 norms. We invite you to be brave enough to enjoy this amazing comedy for what it is – not a homophobic story, but a story where some of the characters are homosexual. After all, there is no story without conflict, and until we are in a world where intolerance to the gay community would never happen, you should expect a story which includes gay men to include some of the conflicts they face every day.

- Nathan Linders, Director


Cast & Characters

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Joel Browne plays BRUCE: A friendly, open-minded, highly emotional, bisexual man whose own American dream is that he can have a wife and kids...and occasionally, Bob.

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Jenn MacNeil plays PRUDENCE: Reserved and structured, but has her insecurities. She hasn’t given up on the idea that she could find the perfect man… yet.

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Trevor Leigh plays STUART: Prudence’s lecherous therapist who has slept with most of his patients. He has a macho exterior but suffers insecurity because he is no good in bed.

Picture
Diane Gludovatz plays CHARLOTTE: Bruce’s therapist - sweet and well intentioned, but completely scatterbrained and highly eccentric.

Picture
Craig Bjornson plays BOB: Bruce’s live-in lover who is extraordinarily jealous of Bruce’s desire to date and eventually marry a woman while keeping him on the side.

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Tristan Duursma plays ANDREW: A waiter with a dark edge.


Behind the Scenes

No theatrical performance could be staged without the dedication and creativity of the production crew:
Producer ------------------------- Andrea Furlan
Director ------------------------- Nathan Linders
Stage Manager ------- Jacqueline Brockholm
Assistant S.M.------------------ Connie Mythen
Backstage Crew ------------- Roberta Barens 
Set Design & Construction - Craig Bjornson 
Set Dressing --------------------  Andrea Furlan
Props -----------------------------  Lyn Kaulback
Costumes ----------------- Bernice Myllyniemi 
Wardrobe Assistant ------ Carolyn Bowering
Make-up -----------------------  Lisa Gludovatz
Hair --------------------------------  Becky Dezall
Sound -------------------------------- Brian Hesje
Lighting Design & Tech --- Denny Kaulback
Publicity --------- Tom Szalay & Angie Stuart

The Playwright

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Christopher Durang (b. 1949.1.2) is an American playwright known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy. His work was especially popular in the 1980s, though his career seemed to get a second wind in the late 1990s. His play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2013. 

Durang was born in Montclair, NJ, the son of Patricia Elizabeth, and architect Francis Ferdinand Durang, Jr. He grew up in Berkeley Heights, NJ where he attended Catholic schools as a child. He received a B.A. in English from Harvard and an M.F.A. in playwriting from Yale School of Drama. He lives in Bucks County, PA with his husband, actor and playwright, John Augustine.

Durang's work often deals critically with issues of child abuse, Roman Catholic dogma, culture, and homosexuality. While Durang's use of parody and his criticism of many social institutions might appear overly cynical at times, he states, "...when I say everyone is crazy that means it's a very bad day where the amount of crazy people in the world has spread out to the entire universe and it doesn't seem possible to cope with anything... I think we're all neurotic. And I do think relationships are certainly difficult. Nonetheless, those lines in the play do get a laugh, so there's something. It’s not as despairing as it sounds, but I don't not believe it."


​SOAP Theatre gratefully acknowledges support from our current corporate sponsors.
​Please visit the following websites and support these local businesses that support community theatre.
​Alberto's Decorating
​​Summit Radio Osoyoos & Penticton
Dubh Glas Distillery
​
InnerVisions Salon

Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service
Oliver-Osoyoos Wine Country
Oliver Veterinary Hospital
​Sagebrush Nursery
​Shamrock Roofing and Exteriors
​
​​Summit Radio Osoyoos & Penticton
​
Underfoot Flooring
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​PO Box 1315, Oliver, BC    V0H 1T0
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  • Home & News
  • 2024-2025 Season
    • Plaza Suite
    • Steel Magnolias
  • Archives
    • 2020 - Present >
      • The Play That Goes Wrong >
        • Cornley
      • Halfway There
      • The Deception of Kathryn Vask
      • 7 Stories
      • Black Bonspiel
      • Knickers
      • When the Wind Blows
      • Flaming Idiots
      • Born Yesterday
    • 2015 - 2019 >
      • Bob's Your Elf
      • Lawrence & Holloman
      • Beyond Therapy
      • It's a Wonderful Life
      • Outside Mullingar
      • Old Love
      • The Game's Afoot
      • Since You Left Us
      • Don't Dress for Dinner
      • Boeing Boeing
      • Sleeping Indoors
      • Noises Off
      • Melville Boys
    • 2010 - 2014 >
      • Nunset Blvd
      • Lend Me a Tenor
      • Twisted Tales
      • Love, Loss and What I Wore
      • The Long Weekend
      • Wild Guys
      • Odd Couple
      • Rumors
    • Prior to 2010 >
      • Sand Mountain
      • Sound of Music
      • All in the Timing
      • California Suite
    • List of All Shows
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Interest Form
    • Sponsorship
    • Newsletter
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