Some people may think The Melville Boys is dated because the play was written in 1984. But, even though our perspectives on the issues discussed in it have shifted since then, Norm Foster’s comedy is far from dated.
Director Tony Cain has only been involved with Langham Court Theatre, who are opening their 2011/2012 season with the comedy, since the 2009/2010 season where he made his first appearance as an assistant stage manager for Sylvia. This is the first time Cain has directed a Foster play.
“He was quite the challenge to me because I’m British,” says Cain. “He is so into the Canadian culture. Me, being English, I had to learn and adapt.”
Cain says that his version of the play not only has a current-day twist, but it’s also a considerably darker take on Foster’s original vision.
“The issue of cancer’s impact on a family and one of the characters’ denial bring a dark contemporary undertone that goes through the play,” he says. “Someone who sat in on one of my rehearsals said that although they had seen The Melville Boys several times, they had never see it in such a dark light. My reply was that it’s not so much a dark comedy, but it’s my, and the actors,’ interpretation of a play written in ’84 being performed in 2011.”
There are other reasons why Cain’s Melville Boys is unique. The producer for the play, 16-year-old Vic High student Colleen Maguire, is the youngest producer in the theatre’s history.
That mix of ages goes right through those involved in the play and can be found in those watching the play. But no matter the age, what the people watching The Melville Boys gets out of it is entirely up to them.
“We have a variety of ages in our audience,” says Cain. “There are veterans who have been coming to this theatre for 50 years, and now there’s the younger generation. The audience will certainly enjoy the comedy, but no director can say for certain what an audience will take from the show.”
The Melville Boys
Until October 15
Langham Court Theatre
$17-19
langhamtheatre.ca