Opening Night by Norm Foster

What could possibly go wrong on Opening Night of a new play? The antics begin as Jack and Ruth celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with his first time at a theatre. Meanwhile, backstage the director is nervous, the actors impossible, and Jack's antics light the fuse that explodes like a time bomb of hilarity. This hysterically funny "backstage" play is zany, witty, bright and altogether a bit too close to the truth.

Ruth Tisdale, a theatre lover, wins a pair of tickets to the opening night performance of a new play. She drags her husband Jack to the theatre as a way to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  Jack, a passionate sports fan, would rather be at home watching the final game of the World Series on TV.  Jack and Ruth are in the VIP lounge mingling with invited guests before the show when Jack spots someone he recognizes from TV. Throw in a cynical director who has to deal with the actors, the wannabes, the has-beens, as well as his needy girlfriend, who in the midst of it all wants to talk about their relationship.

Put this all put together with the premiere of, ‘Whisper On The Wind,’ which must be one of the worst plays ever written, and the stage is set, or rather upset for a night of theatre like no other.

Opening Night was originally produced at The Piggery Theatre in North Hatley, Quebec, in   1989.

Opening Night is staged by arrangement with Pam Winter, GGA, www.ggagency.ca.

Norm Foster

Norm Foster is Canada's most produced playwright, with more than fifty-five critically acclaimed plays performed throughout North America and the rest of the world.  Foster pens plays that are known for their humour, accessibility, and insight into everyday life. He is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award for his play, ‘The Melville Boys,’ which would go on to be produced across Canada and in the United States, including a well-received run Off Broadway in New York. It would become his signature play, and the one which would bring his name to the forefront of Canadian theatre.

Upon completion of his media studies degree, he began a radio career that would span 25 years taking him from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg to Kingston and finally to Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was in Fredericton in 1980 that Norm was introduced to the world of theatre. He fell in love with the theatre right then and there and two years later he penned his first professionally produced play, Sinners. It was produced by Theatre New Brunswick and directed by Malcolm Black. Since then, Norm Foster has produced an astonishing output of work, nearly 40 plays in all, including The Affections of May, the most produced play in Canada in 1991. He has also written a musical with composer Leslie Arden ( The Last Resort) and three musicals ( Jasper Station, Race Day and Sitting Pretty) with composer Steve Thomas.