ST. STPEHEN – The St. Croix Theatre Company is premiering a new romantic comedy this week.
Peggy Fothergill and Christine Lannaman are co-directors on Hilda’s Yard, a Norm Foster creation. The play tells the story of Hilda and Sam Fluck and their two adult children, Gary and Janey. The play is set on Sept. 28, 1956. Fothergill’s interpretation of the date is that it is representative of a turning of seasons, a turning of decades and, perhaps a turning of fortunes.
“I think he tipped the day just after the turn of summer,” said Fothergill. “And in 1956, he’s pointing us from the change of the ’50s to the ’60s.”
The parents’ big dream is to finally own a television and they think they may be able to with Gary about to, finally, leave home. Their big plans begin to unravel when recently married Janey returns home saying married life isn’t for her.
Fothergill says the play reveals parallels between the father and daughter that were previously unrealized. Gary has had some interesting exploits as well, which are brought to light in the production.
“In the end, of course, being a romantic comedy, everything gets settled and they embrace each other. Everybody lives, more or less, happily every after,” said Fothergill.
But not without some interesting twists along the way.
All the actors in the company are amateur players volunteering because they love acting and performing. All are local to the area.
The play runs May 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen Middle School. There’s a matinée on May 28 at 2 p.m. The following weekend, there are performances in Saint Andrews, June 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. in the theatre at the W.C. O’Neill complex with a matinée June 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at Ganong Chocolatier in St. Stephen, OK Tire in Oak Bay and Cockburn’s Drugstore in Saint Andrews.
robertfisher@stcroixcourier.ca