One for the Pot AKA The Eddie Glen Show
For fans of British farce, One for the Pot has it all: slamming doors, look-alike characters, mistaken identities, a silly plot and lots of laughs. This ridiculous farce has the audience hooting heartily, and is on stage at Playhouse II in Grand Bend, for the rest of the summer.
I can’t reveal much of the story, for fear of spoiling the plot. A rich man has been searching for a descendant of the Hickory Wood family to give him a sum of money. When only one recipient, Billy Hickory Wood, shows up, he is about to receive the entire amount. But then, there are many complications and it takes two acts to sort it all out.
Never has an actor worked as hard as Eddie Glen in this production. Glen is off stage, then back on immediately, covering different roles. It’s exhausting just watching his energy. Glen is absolutely hilarious in this play: he’s the master of the funny face, and uses it to full advantage in the smaller house in Playhouse II. This is a show for an intimate theatre, and Glen takes advantage of that closeness by speaking directly to the audience on occasion, which adds to the hilarity. Many of Glen’s looks and grins remind me of the great Canadian comic actor Mike Myers.
The sidekick to Glen’s character, Charlie Barnet, is played by Tim Funnell, who is suitably conniving and funny at the same time. Kyle Golemba is appropriately snooty as the English art dealer, and Sarah Higgins as the budding artist is a perfect blend of snobby and lovable. Brian Tree and Andrea Risk are excellent as brother and sister, while Douglas E. Hughes garners many laughs for his strange speech impediment. David Leyshon is perfect as Jugg, the butler with an ulterior motive, and Amanda Leigh is comical as the distraught and ignored wife. We don’t hear any lines from Jason Huska, yet he handles an important role well.
One for the Pot is written by Ray Cooney, who also created Run for Your Wife, a hit at Playhouse II in 2014. First produced in 1963, some of One for the Pot is dated, but for the most part, it still works today. Credit goes to Director Marcia Kash, who has directed many farces for Drayton Entertainment, for keeping it fresh and fast-paced.
If you enjoy lots of physical comedy and silly plot turns, then you’ll love One for the Pot.
One for the Pot continues with eight shows a week until September 2 at Playhouse II in Grand Bend. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office: 519-238-6000 or Toll Free 1-855-372-9866, or check www.huroncountryplayhouse.com
Photo: Sarah Higgins, Douglas E. Hughes, Eddie Glen, Tim Funnell, and David Leyshon in One for the Pot. Photo by Liisa Steinwedel.
One for the Pot
By Ray Cooney and Tony Hilton
Directed by Marcia Kash
Performed by Tim Funnell, Eddie Glen, Kyle Golemba, Sarah Higgins, Douglas E. Hughes, Jason Huska, Amanda Leigh, David Leyshon, Andrea Risk, Brian Tree.
Produced by Drayton Entertainment
Playhouse II, Grand Bend
August 16 to September 2, 2017
Reviewed by Mary Alderson