The Yellow Point Drama Group is proving that the show must go on with One-Actmanship: Two Plays by Norm Foster, opening March 14 at the Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Rd.
When Gordon McInnis had to step back from directing The Death of Me due to unexpected surgery just weeks before opening night, the cast and crew pulled together to ensure the production stayed on track. Co-director Christian Ostaffy stepped in to guide rehearsals and McInnis praised his team’s dedication.
“I just couldn’t ask for better people,” McInnis said.
But the behind-the-scenes drama didn’t end there. Ostaffy, originally set to direct only My Narrator, found himself stepping into even more roles — literally. When an actor had to drop out unexpectedly, he took on the role of Miles, all while making his directorial debut.
Despite the challenges, Ostaffy embraced the experience, noting that his background as an actor helped him connect with the cast.
“I think being an actor gives me a different perspective and a little more empathy for what the cast is actually trying to achieve,” he said. “It turned into a collaborative effort.”
Featuring two one-act comedies, My Narrator and The Death of Me, this production brings Foster’s signature blend of humour and heart to the stage.
Norm Foster is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most successful playwrights, known for comedies that balance sharp wit with a deep understanding of human relationships. His extensive body of work, including The Melville Boys, Over the River and Through the Woods, and The Affections of May, has cemented his reputation as the country’s most-produced playwright. His ability to craft stories that are both hilarious and heartfelt makes his plays audience favourites across Canada and beyond.
My Narrator is a romantic comedy that asks you to imagine what would happen if that little voice inside your head — the one that tells you how to behave and what choices to make — suddenly took on a life of its own. For Lacy and Miles, love is what happens, and with hilarious results.
"[The characters] stumble through their relationships and I think it is about persevering," Ostaffy said. "Things that are meant to be do sort of come together at the end."
The second play is The Death of Me.
In this witty play, John, one of the nicest guys alive, wakes up from a dream to discover he's actually dead. Even worse, he's caught in a waiting room to get into heaven, dealing with the Angel of Death. He talks her into giving him a second chance at life so he can correct some of his mistakes. Along the way he learns that, in correcting past mistakes, it is easy to make all kinds of new ones, and that perhaps his destiny is not yet etched in stone.
McInnis appreciates Foster's ability to combine the heart and silliness.
“He's very funny," McInnis said. "He manages to pull on heartstrings which adds a nice human element to a comedy. He tells a very interesting story while being totally silly."
With two directors, an unexpected cast change and a production team working tirelessly behind the scenes, One-Actmanship is a true testament to the spirit of community theatre.
“They say ‘the show must go on’ for a reason,” Ostaffy said with a laugh.
One-Actmanship opens March 14 with seven performances through March 30, on March 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30.
Visit the Yellow Point Drama Group website for more information.
