Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
The Full Monty
Someone close to me advised me that it's time I wrote a "light" column instead of my usual rant. This being such a sunny, warm day that one feels hard-pressed to get into the rant mode, I'm inclined to agree.
However, I am forced to admit that what follows is an absolutely shameless act of self-promotion: the key word being "act".
Just over a week ago, I was asked by my colleagues in OnStage Uxbridge if I would direct a play for them this coming November. I was told that I could choose any play I wanted. Wow! Over 20 years in local community theatre and this is the first time I have been made an offer like that. I have directed productions in the past, but I always had to submit a proposal beforehand.
I take it as a great compliment and vote of confidence that OnStage Uxbridge was willing to take whatever play I had to offer. And what I am going to offer is something that I - and my sweetheart - have been dreaming of for years.
It took less than a minute for me to decide that I will be directing a play called The Diaries of Adam and Eve, adapted from the writings of the great American humorist, Mark Twain. Actually, given our mutual love of this particular piece of theatre, my sweetheart and I have decided to be co-directors. Not only that, but most shamelessly of all, this two-character play will star - you guessed it - me and my sweetheart.
Truly, such audacity and egotism is breathtaking: but if ever there was a place for audacity and ego, it is the theatre.
Immediately, our ages come into question, particularly mine. However, since the play covers the lives of Adam and Eve from the time of their creation to their twilight years, that should not be a problem. And theatrical makeup and lighting can work wonders.
There was a brief discussion between the two of us about costuming and whether or not we should take The Full Monty approach in the early scenes. The discussion went something like this:
"Should we?" "No!" End of discussion.
Talking about the play, what surprised us was the realization that, although the two of us have been involved in numerous productions, first with the Uxbridge Players and Uxbridge Musical Theatre before they merged into OnStage Uxbridge, we have only been on stage together with those companies five times. Now, I have directed her before and she has directed me and we have worked together in various capacities - props, costuming, etc - quite often. We appeared together as Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert in Anne, the play based on Anne of Green Gables, for the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society and we have been together in several of Joel Van Veghel's Fawlty Towers productions. But only five times on stage together with the theatre group.
The Diaries of Adam and Eve gives us something we have wanted to do for a long time: interact with each other for a whole play. Our excitement over the project, however, is tempered by the fact that we both realize the inherent dangers of not only performing together but directing each other in a two-character play. It could play Merry Andrew with our relationship if we are not careful. It's that ego thing. Anyone involved in theatre knows the difficulties that can arise when conflicting egos enter the equation. It's even worse when those egos involve a couple.
It seems to me, however, given the gentle humour and the emerging love story of the play, that if we do it right we should come out of this project relatively unscathed and perhaps just a little bit closer.
Tell me, am I wrong.
