Eatdrink #43 September/October 2013

Photo by John Iglesias
№ 43 | September/October 2013 www.eatdrink.ca 55
to its playwright, Dr. Colin Forbes. The
author and subject is the last surviving
CPR porter and this play
recounts his experience
with racial prejudice in the
’40s, as well as the history
of the Canadian Pacific
Railway. It is also the story
of a determined young man
who eventually becomes
a pediatrician and spends
the rest of his professional
life teaching and practicing
in Africa. On his return to
Canada, he establishes the first medical
clinic on an isolated First Nations Reserve.
Speaking of Canadian history, I spoke to
playwright, Norm Foster, about Elgin Theatre
Guild’s remounting here in London of their
recent critical and commercial hit Old Love at
The ARTS Project September 19–21.
“Why does this particular
play resonate with audiences,
Norm?” I asked.
“Old Love?” Foster
pondered. “The older I get,
the older my characters get.
This play was written with
people my age in mind.
People still looking for
love long after most of us
have found it. That’s why
the play remains one of my
favourites.”
I’m not looking for love and it still
resonated with me. Maybe ‘cause I fit in
with the “old” part. I told Foster I believe
it is one of his best works. I state that even
though some of my personal best roles were
in his other plays!
A role I always wanted but never landed
Lesley Chapman and Rob Faust in
Old Love by Elgin Theatre Guild
Phil Calautit in Little Shop of Horrors
by Iglesias Productions
was in Little Shop of Horrors. Take your pick:
Dentist, Seymour — heck, I would have
settled for a patient! Nevertheless,
I’m really looking
forward to Iglesias Productions
version at McManus
Studio, October 13–26.
Director John Iglesias
continues the passion
theme stating, “I’m just
following my heart. I’m
a fan of the underdog
love stories.” With several
successful productions
under his belt, this is the first show Iglesias
says he has put, “other people in charge
to shine. I can’t do it all myself anymore!”
Sounds like a great theatre motto!
Finally, thirty years after my first
Tennessee Williams experience, Theatre
Soup mounts Suddenly Last Summer,
October 7–19 at the
ARTS Project. Psychosurgeons,
lobotomies,
homosexuality, oh my!
Can’t wait to see how
director Lesleigh Turner
handles this stark, dare I
say it, “psycho-drama”?
Back to my quote at the
outset. I should know.
Anyway, can’t wait to
expose more weaknesses
on stage figuratively and
literally. More on that in my next column.
See you in November!
Donald D’Haene is Editor of donaldsdish.ca. He has
been cast in Fuse Productions’ The Full Monty, playing The
Palace Theatre February 7–16. Twitter @TheDonaldNorth and
email: donalddhaene@hotmail.com.