“This wonderfully comic script by Jay Folb is an excellent opportunity for a talented group to prove their comedic skills under the able direction of Tony Scott”. So wrote Rosemary McGinnis in the Carleton Place Canadian in February 1992. A member of the Carleton Place Arts Council of the day McGinnis was reviewing the Mississippi Mudds newest adventure into theatre. Did you miss it 17 years ago? You are in luck. Don’t Look Down, written by one of the Mash (TV) writing team, is to be featured in the Mudds upcoming Raise Your Glass Gala at the Carleton Place Town Hall on May 2nd.
Buy a ticket to the Gala dinner and theatre event and you will most certainly be entertained and dazzled by music and costumes from many past shows. Favourites from shows such as Sounds of The Fifties, The Sixties Show, Mudds Country, Blast From The Past, Lil’ Abner, Oh Susannah, Sleeping Beauty and Hercules, many creatively arranged by Mudds bandleader Peter Brown, are all being polished up under the Musical direction of Laurel Piper.
But tucked into the middle of the evening you will be able to savour this somewhat black but nevertheless comedic gem. Once again directed by Scott, an almost entirely new cast has been assembled to portray the hapless Paul Kramer and his family, friends and associates who assemble to “help” him out of a perilous predicament. Perched on a ledge 14 floors above a New York street, Paul is to learn many details of his life that would have been best kept secret.
You will have to come to the show to find out why he is on the ledge and the final outcome but be assured there will be plenty of humour with a cast of talented actors. You will see Brian McManus, (Cheaters and Without A Hitch) in the role of Paul, played before by Jim MacGregor. Jenny Pfitzer (Waiting For The Parade/Sleeping Beauty) plays Sylvia the glamorous but bitter wife, previously played by the Carell Allen. Pat Black (Sleeping Beauty/ Hercules) reprises her role as the possessive and hysterical mother. Robert Horne (Missing Link/Hercules) plays Morty the egocentric business partner, previously played by David Staples. Meredith Millman (Oh Susannah/Murder Medium Rare) plays the eager but inexperienced NY cop, played in ’92 by Steve Carboni. Linda Pond (Noir Suspicions) plays the intense and guilt ridden psychiatrist Dr Wright, played by Bonnie Walther in ‘92.
Scott says he is eager to bring this story to life once again. Don’t Look Down was part of the Mudds first foray into plays after 18 years of presenting only musicals and reviews. In January 1992 the town hall auditorium had just been closed for what turned out to be 4 years, pending upgrades, and the group was exploring other performance venues. Putting on an evening of one Act plays (When God Comes To Breakfast You Don’t Burn The Toast and Don’t Look Down) proved to be a wonderful opportunity to develop acting and directing skills. And special effects proved an interesting challenge too. How do you “burn” toast without setting off smoke alarms? How do you “blow” a roll of money off a windowsill yet make sure it doesn’t land on the audience? (With the perspective and wisdom of the past 17 years we offer an additional thank you for patience and understanding to the Zion Memorial Church for use of their hall.) A grant from Theatre Ontario that year provided a professional “play polisher”. A day spent with this expert resulted in valuable tools for character development and pumping the energy and humour at every opportunity. Many of these lessons have been worked into Mudds general performance practices in the ensuing 17 years.
Don’t miss the chance to see a show that not only celebrates the past 35 years but ushers in the next chapter of Mudds community theatre: building the future on the past.
Raise Your Glass is presented at the Carleton Place Town Hall on May 2nd. Tickets for this dinner theatre Gala are $60 and are available at the Remembrance Gift Shop 613 257 3931. The Mudds is grateful to all sponsors of their 35th season but special thanks go to Gold Sponsors Valley Design and Giant Tiger.
