The Affections of May
The Affections
of May
Plays Sept 9 thru Oct 2
A light-hearted romantic comedy called The Affections of May opens the Racine
Theatre Guild's lineup of regular-season plays for its 68th season. The playwright
is Norm Foster, who has been called the Canadian version of Neil Simon. The
show opens September 9 and runs four weekends through October 2.
The title zeroes in on the play's content, since it is about two
very different men competing for the affections of May Henning, a spirited woman
and former teacher. She is undergoing enormous changes in her life, and the
comedy follows how she uses her wit to cope.
May and her husband Brian left the big city one year ago to move
to the small town of Grogan's Cove and start a bed and breakfast. At the beginning
of the play, May's husband Brian tells her that he misses the city and is returning,
leaving her with the business to run, now in serious financial trouble. She
finds herself alone and broke.
Quinn is a local handyman, who arrives on May's doorstep needing
a place to stay since his motor home caught on fire. He has a unique set of
his own problems, including the sudden death of his parents. Quinn is certainly
rough around the edges, unkempt, scruffy and too fond of the bottle.
Hank, the polished and professional local banker, also shows up
to court the suddenly-single May. He holds May's future in his hands, since
she will need a loan to keep her bed-and-breakfast business going. Though he
has a certain charm and kindness, Hank still lives with his mother, and the
most exciting thing in his life is his collection of coffee mugs.
May tries to hold off the two suitors, but they are both anxious
to take her to the upcoming Halloween costume party. One thing leads to another,
including a Scrabble game with words that have double meanings. Only if you
come to the show will you find out which way May's affections will go.
Norm Foster has created some real and believable characters, caught
up in the circumstances of the moment. He includes many comical references to
small-town life, with everyone knowing everyone else's business.
The Affections of May opened in 1990 in Fredericton, New Brunswick,
Canada, and it has run successfully ever since in professional and community
theatres. It was the most produced play in Canada in 1991. Critics gave it a
warm reception, with comments including:
"A charmer for all seasons." - Toronto Globe and Mail
"For all the laughs, and The Affections of May has plenty
of comic moments --there are times for tenderness too." - Hamilton Spectator
"Foster knows just when to tickle the funny bone or pull
on the heartstrings, and here he does both with equal skill." - Fredericton
Daily Gleaner
"A flawless balance of humour and sentiment." -Backstage.com
The Affections of May runs four weekends, September 9 through
October 2. For information or to reserve tickets, please call the Box Office
at 633-4218. You'll definitely want to see this play that combines clever comedy
and sweet romance.
From the Managing/Artistic Director - Doug Instenes
There is always a sense of excitement as we start a new season,
and we have already had lots of fun with the summer show, Packer Fans from Outer
Space, complete with a tailgate party. Now the charming, funny and touching
The Affections of May by Norm Foster is the first regular show of the 68th season.
The Racine Theatre Guild, as always, is a hotbed of activity,
with one show in rehearsal ready to open, another about to be cast, and preparations
for Scrooge -- The Musical starting already. The Racine Children's Theatre is
about to open another four-show season of delightful plays to entertain children
ages four and up. In addition, Harbor Fest is gearing up for another season
of Jean's Jazz.
SPArK (Student Performing Arts Kompany), for middle-school children,
is set to start a new season with a new director. Cody Ernest will take the
reins to lead these energetic young actors as they meet weekly to rehearse a
play to be performed at area elementary schools in spring.
We are happy to have Jamie Cheatham from UW-Parkside to serve
as guest director for The Affections of May. Our pattern of inviting guest directors
for some plays each season allows even more creativity to flourish, as each
director brings a different style to the rehearsal process.
If you do not yet have season tickets, they are still available, and you can purchase them in time to get subscriber savings for the next seven shows, including The Affections of May. Call the box office for a season brochure so you can join us.
Quick Facts about the Playwright
Norm Foster, born in 1949 in Newmarket, Ontario, is the most produced playwright
in Canada, known for light-hearted comedies with snappy dialogue. He began his
career as a morning radio show host. Oddly enough, the first time he ever saw
a live stage play was in 1980, when he was cast in a production of Harvey. Two
years later he wrote his first play.
Soon he began writing comedies, and a string of them has followed ever since,
often making professional debuts at Theatre New Brunswick. More than 30 of his
plays have been produced, both in Canada and abroad. Some titles include My
Darling Judith (1987), The Affections of May (1990), The Motor Trade (1991),
Wrong for Each Other (1992) and Office Hours (1996). The Melville Boys (1984)
ran successfully on Broadway.
Foster has written plays at the rate of about one a year and says he writes
three or four hours each day. The trick, he says, is recognizing when your play
is finished.
Foster does not write to teach a lesson, but hopes to make people "feel
a little better about this world, and that's not easy these days."
The Affections of May
by Norm Foster
Director.........................Jamie Cheatham
Cast
May ................................ Melissa Hughes Ernest
Quinn ............................... Cody Ernest
Hank ................................ John Strack
Brian ................................ Brian Schalk
Crew
Prod. St. Mgr ................. Mike Kurhajec
Scenic Design ................. Lizz Otto-Cramer
Tech. Director ................ Kurt Oian
Asst. St. Mgr. ................. Kevin Edmonston
Costume Design ............. Cindy David
Makeup ......................... Jeanne Christensen
Sound Design ................. David Zimmerman
Props/Sound Tech........... Heather Bumstead
Light Design ................... Mike Kurhajec
Light Technician ............. Dana Strauss