"The Bird’s and the Bees" by Mark Crawford opened on Wednesday afternoon to the largest audience in the Port Stanley Theatre’s history (a packed house in this year’s newly expanded theatre). Those theatre-goers had the pleasure of seeing this finale play for the 2016 season and were quick to give it an enthusiastic standing ovation. |
All four actors have been well cast and adeptly bring their characters to real, gritty life. Gail (Susan Johnston Collins) is a 20-years-divorce-bitter and seemingly prudish bee-keeper. Earl (Terry Barna) Gail’s farm neighbour and land-tenant is a rough around the edges, blustering “ladies man” who has had a string of relationships with women who admire his “skills”. (Gail’s husband divorced her to get together with Earl’s wife – somehow Earl has managed to get over his resentment about the affair while Gail has not.) Sarah (Jane Spence), Gail’s daughter, has returned home – her marriage is in tatters, her life has taken a nosedive and things don’t appear to be looking up anytime soon. Ben (Ryan Bommarito), a geeky-new ageish-scientist-philosopher undergrad student has appeared to study bees, starting with Gail’s.
The actor’s interactions are convincing, their characters quickly become more well-rounded and the action moves along at an enjoyable pace. Both the drama and comedy of this play should appeal to a wide audience. There are many references to country and farm life which those with a rural background will appreciate.
“The Birds and the Bees” is about the relationships of birds, bees and humans – all part of nature and a world where, it seems, things are often looking not so good. But there are plenty of laughs and one of the best ever steamy/hilarious sex scenes.
Along with many very funny moments, "The Birds and the Bees" also offers a little reflection on looking at things as parts of a complicated whole rather than always as antagonistic pieces, elucidated (sort of) by Ben.
The set, designed by Eric Bunnell, nicely portrays two bedrooms of a home which is overseen by a busy woman who hasn’t much concern for updating things, and it makes an effective back-drop to the action.
"The Birds and the Bees", directed by Simon Joynes, is wonderful entertainment – well written, directed and acted. With plenty of laughs and a bit of a hopeful message for a not so perfect world, it's a perfect ending to the 2016 season at the Port Stanley Theatre.
"The Birds and the Bees" runs August 17th to September 3rd at Port Stanley Festival Theatre. For more information, visit http://www.portstanleyfestivaltheatre.com/.
Along with many very funny moments, "The Birds and the Bees" also offers a little reflection on looking at things as parts of a complicated whole rather than always as antagonistic pieces, elucidated (sort of) by Ben.
The set, designed by Eric Bunnell, nicely portrays two bedrooms of a home which is overseen by a busy woman who hasn’t much concern for updating things, and it makes an effective back-drop to the action.
"The Birds and the Bees", directed by Simon Joynes, is wonderful entertainment – well written, directed and acted. With plenty of laughs and a bit of a hopeful message for a not so perfect world, it's a perfect ending to the 2016 season at the Port Stanley Theatre.
"The Birds and the Bees" runs August 17th to September 3rd at Port Stanley Festival Theatre. For more information, visit http://www.portstanleyfestivaltheatre.com/.