CentreStage Follies delightful turn on golden years

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS

NovaNewsNow.com

A comedic tale of the times and trials of those spending their golden years in retirement unfolds at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville Jan.10 to Feb.16.

Senior Follies, directed by Mindy Vinqvist-Tymchuk, features two con artists that move into a retirement home with intentions to fleece funds from other inhabitants. Residents must rally together to unravel their scheme before it’s too late.

Cherie Zinck and Diana Bishop are quick to set the standard for the show with tremendous onstage chemistry. These ladies are presented as a pair of best buds from way back. They communicate in a unique way that only girls growing up gossiping away in the corner can really understand with amusement.

However, there seems to be at least one role for all to relate despite the gender or age of the audience. The storyline displays vintage humour that can be appreciated by all.

Some jokes - about such things as specific medication, menopause or golden oldies - will fly over the heads of most youngsters. No matter; for the most part, the aged and under-aged are treated to the timeless humour of the world in Senior Follies.

Wayne Akin and Rose Meagher emphasized expressions and enunciation as the two cons coming into the retirement home. Each brings straightforward acting skills made exceptional by the script and their ability to milk a scene for all it’s worth.

The most hilarious scene involves an exchange between retirement home tenants Peter Booth and Wayne Marriott. When Booth goes into a serious speech with Marriott about the ladies at the retirement home and the wonders of Viagra, it was hard not to convulse with laughter as I finally gained insight into the mysteries of guy talk.

Teresa Patterson, Franklin Sherrard and Liz Stern should also be given standing ovations for assuming roles with confidence and conviction, allowing the audience to understand completely each individual character. And trust me; no one places a kooky retirement home keeper quite like Sherrard.

Overall, Senior Follies features an amazing ensemble cast that delivers a performance recommended for anyone looking to be entertained. Filled by the factors of love, lust, deceit, riches, raves, friends and foes, this play takes a good story and makes it a crazy, comedic reality.