It’s International Women’s Day on Thursday May 8th*, so it’s fitting that Lunchbox Theatre’s Artistic Director Pamela Halstead should choose this week to open a show that centres around women, both on stage and off. Fascinating Ladies by Catherine O’Brien (conceived by Catherine O’Brien and Julain Molnar) tells the story of three cousins who get together to sing at their music-loving grandmother’s 100th birthday party. As described on the Lunchbox website, “some unexpected secrets get revealed as they travel down memory lane through her trunks and journals. As they explore their grandmother’s life through song, their own hopes, fears, and secrets are revealed as well. A delightful journey through a life and decades of music”.
As I have previously written, I generally don’t go for revues or jukebox musicals that are based on popular (usually nostalgic) music, but in this case, there’s enough of a story to keep things interesting throughout (I laughed, I cried – yes, even at Lunchbox you’d better be prepared to bring a hankie if, like me, you’re the weepy sort – and I felt like singing; so my three prime criteria for an entertaining musical were met). The premise also creates a believable excuse for breaking into song (over and over) as the women prepare for their concert.
The cousins, Patty, Francine and Louise, are portrayed by three strong singer-actresses (forgive me if you prefer the term actors for both men and women) who are no strangers to the Calgary professional stage: Katherine Fadum, Esther Purves-Smith, and Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan, respectively. All three characters are very distinctive, both physically and in personality, and I feel the ensemble, under the direction of Jan Alexandra Smith works well together. I particularly enjoyed a funny scene in which they reenact the night where their grandmother’s band played both the Orangemen’s Hall and The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society (I think) simultaneously, so as not to offend either group, and run up and down stage, alternately singing songs in French and English, until they feign exhaustion.
If the names of the cousins are strikingly close to those of the The Andrews Sisters (Patty, Maxine and Laverne), I’m sure that’s no accident. (If you’ve never heard of the Andrews Sisters, you just might be a tad young for this show). The music hails from the swing, big band and boogie-woogie era, the wonderful tight harmonies are intentionally reminiscent of their style, and the show features many of the songs they made famous. In fact, in the trio’s medley of wartime hits – Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy, Sentimental Journey, and In the Mood – you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
I like that the songs are a mix of the familiar and songs I hadn’t heard before and that they occasionally throw in a change from the usual keyboard musical accompaniment (by Musical Director Joe Slabe, who along with Lighting and Sound Designer Jason Schwarz is one of only two men on the production team) with Esther Purves-Smith on guitar and ukulele, tracks from old records (or what sounded like old records) and even a music box. I also was impressed with the period props that lend an authentic air to the set (not sure who should get the kudos here: presumably any or all of set designer Becky Solly, Stage Manager Kelsey Ter Kuile or Apprentice Stage Manager Megan Gurnsey), and with costume designer Rebecca Toon’s perfect choice of dresses for the finale – no doubt aided and abetted in the dressing room by costume assistant, Shannon Iwamoto.
All in all, this isn’t a musical I would normally choose to see (other than the fact that it’s Canadian, and I do have a soft spot for Canadian writers), but I found it a pleasant way to spend an extended lunch hour, and I think most people who like Lunchbox shows, and particularly seniors, will think so too. And certainly, if you want to support and celebrate fascinating ladies in theatre you can’t ask for a much better opportunity.
Fascinating Ladies plays at Lunchbox Theatre until March 24th. Show times are Monday to Saturday at 12:10PM, Friday at 6:10 pm and Saturday at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and students. Note that although the website says the running time is approximately 50 minutes, it’s actually about an hour, which is long for Lunchbox plays, so plan accordingly.
*In case you’re wondering, International Men’s Day is November 19th.
