Theatre lovers will want to venture out of the comforts of their home to experience the staged reading of Robert More's Jessica's Fine Adventure, which won the 2023 Playwrights Guild of Canada Comedy award.
This laugh riot about one woman's journey on discovering how to live her best life with joy will be presented by The Mercury Players on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., inside the Sands Funeral Chapel Reception Centre.
"What speaks to me most about this play is that it's a story of a woman's journey of self-discovery," said director Jessica Lalonde. "So many women find themselves leading lives where they are simply going through the motions, and I believe Jessica to be such a woman. I am inspired by her courage to go out and have the experiences she has longed for, as many of us do not seize that opportunity for ourselves."
Jessica Quartermaine, who is 69-years old, and has been a widow for 19 years decides it is never too late to sow one's oats. She describes her 31 year marriage with her former husband Harrison as relentlessly predictable, and deprived of sensuality.
With a plan to experience in her own words the 'euphoria of sweet intimacy' she puts an ad in the newspaper looking for suitors. Hilarity ensues in spades as she starts to get replies which leads to romantic encounters with more than one interested fella including an experienced 65-year-old Italian fashion model, an inexperienced and insecure 43-year-old librarian, and a 73-year-old Scot with a larger-than-life personality.
Lalonde has always been involved in theatre, and has even had the opportunity to be an assistant director as a teenager, but this is her first time directing.
"To have this opportunity is so exciting," said Lalonde. "The Mercury Players are an absolutely fantastic group of actors and I'm very honoured to be able to lead them in this story-telling session."
Those unfamiliar with a staged reading are in for a treat. It is theatre in its purest form — no set, no props, and costumes are minimal at best. No dramatic light changes — just the actors interacting, and performing the story with their scripts in front of them.
Rien Vesseur plays one of Jessica's love interests and he will be joined by Sylvia Swift who will be taking on the lead role of Jessica. Rob Foell as well as Dr. Graham Brockley who most will remember from CMS's Shrek: The Musical have also been cast as Jessica's suitable suitors, and rounding off the ensemble as the men in Jessica's life are Perry Mills, Thomas Przywara, and Chadd Cawson.
"I think my favourite part so far about directing the cast is just their willingness to go for it — even though it's just a staged reading," said Lalonde. "Every actor is bringing the energy, the chemistry, and the hilarity that I would expect from a full production, and I really appreciate that."
Admission for Jessica's Fine Adventure will be by donation. Doors at the Ypres Street entrance of Sands Funeral Chapel will open at 6:30 p.m. Reserve your seat on Eventbrite.
"After viewing Jessica's Fine Adventure, I hope theatre lovers will walk away with a sense of awe," said Lalonde. "I also hope they leave with a smidgen of inspiration to push past a barricade in their own lives, and of course leave with aching cheeks from laughing so much that it hurts."
