Fun Couple of Hours Fly By with "Birds of a Feather"

Four people have headed for the woods in Port Stanley Festival Theatre’s Birds of a Feather. Three of them are in hot pursuit of the rare Bachman Warbler. Through a series of shifting conversational groupings and surprises, the real motivations for this bird-watching expedition are revealed.

The troubled and fiercely competitive Edward (Patric  Mesurkevitch) has birded far and wide and is on a joyless quest to add one more notable species to his count of 735. Barbara (Lorna Wilson), Ed’s long-time adversary, seems just about as driven and lonely, but a lot more philosophical about the search and while Ed admits to having absolutely “no intuition”, she seems to have arrived at this particular point in her life with a fair share of it. Then there are the two newlywed “locals”.  Jack (Andrew Fleming) who has taken pleasure over many years in bird-watching with his father, is a totally distracted and inattentive groom.  Angie (Julia Lederer) has a deep fear of nature, absolutely no interest in birds and is totally confused as to why they are there.

Barbara (played by Lorna Wilson); Edward (Patric Mesurkevitch); Jack (Andrew Fleming) and Angie (Julia Lederer)

The play touches on themes of regrets and learning to avoid them; a sense of wonder versus one of achievement; the peculiar intimacy that adversaries sometimes share; looking after each other, and the different motivations which may drive those on a long-time quest.

Birds of a Feather is written and directed by PSFT artistic director Simon Joynes. Its has plenty of humour mostly related to poking fun at some of the peculiarities of avid and sometimes obsessive birders. You may be disappointed if you go to this play expecting continuous rapid-fire comedy, although there are many amusing moments. Ed is too troubled to be a source of fun; Jack and Angie do such a good job playing two people failing to connect through most of the play that they are a source more of uneasiness than laughs. On the other hand, Barbara is bold, boisterous and bigger than life. She seems to be figuring things out as she goes and sharing the lessons learned. Lorna Wilson in this role does a wonderful job of provoking smiles and holding this band of birders together to entertain for a couple hours that seem to fly by.

Birds of a Feather runs till July 23rd. Find out more at www.portstanleytheatre.ca.