Critical, Crazy Mid-Life Crisis
Ladies, are you looking for a girls’ night out? Then this is the show: The Crazy Time was written for women of a certain age, who want some laughs at the expense of their men.
Following the opening night performance of The Crazy Time, now on stage at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, I listened for feedback in the lobby. For the most part, the ladies were loving the show, but the men seemed less certain about it.
The one thing both sexes agreed upon is the hilarious performance by Canadian theatre comedy legend, Paul Brown. Brown plays the lead role, and with his usual penchant for physical comedy, starts the show by sliding off a leather chair in exhaustion and landing on the floor like a blob of melting ice cream. Brown is also known for his facial expressions: a simple raised eyebrow or quick scowl can cause an audience to break out in gales of laughter. 
Brown plays Miles Gladstone, a man who is going through a mid-life crisis. He leaves his wife of 35 years for a much younger woman, who apparently looks very good in a string bikini. Business has been good for Miles and his partner, Jerry, so Miles has been able to pay a generous alimony to ex-wife Kate, and also shower the new trophy wife with gifts. But then things fall apart. Partner Jerry forces Miles to sell his half of the business. Then Miles’ daughter Susan shows up, seeking the details of how Miles cheated on her mother when he began his affair with the younger woman. Susan fears her husband is doing the same thing. Then the ex-wife Kate comes to Miles’ loft with her new, much-younger boy toy, Dirk.
Gordon Gammie is Jerry, the less than honest business partner. This guy’s a liar and a cheater when it comes to business, so I think Gammie made Jerry a little too likeable. His interjections as Miles is trying to woo back Kate are hilarious. Drayton regular Jayme Armstrong is Susan, Miles’ daughter who is suspicious of her husband. Armstrong has some good lines when asking her father about all the sordid details of his affair.
Gabrielle Jones is excellent as the confident Kate who overcomes being dumped and now likes herself better. Looking great in a tight pencil skirt and high heels, she struts her stuff for her ex and shows off boy toy Dirk (or Dick or Dork as Miles calls him). Kyle Golemba, with his Brat Pitt good looks is perfect as the clueless, gum-chewing Dirk.
For some, this show might be a case of ‘too true to be funny’. It’s a study in hypocrisy that can happen all too often in real life. Miles is forced to reveal his embarrassing, adulterous escapades to his daughter, but is not happy to think that his son-in-law might be doing the same thing. He is disgusted by Kate’s amorous affair with a man young enough to be her son, yet he did the same thing.
Ladies, celebrate spring and enjoy some laughs with your girlfriends – this is the perfect comedy for girls’ night. When Miles is trying to win back Kate he reminds her that when they first started dating she thought he was the cat’s ass. And then he goes on to say dog’s ass, horse’s ass. Lines like that will have you smiling and nodding.
The Crazy Time continues with eight shows a week until May 3 at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office Toll Free 1-855-372-9866, or check http://www.draytonentertainment.com/
Photo: Paul Brown as Miles and Gordon Gammie as Jerry in The Crazy Time. Photo by Gary Moon, Moonlighting Photography.
The Crazy Time
By Sam Bobrick
Directed by Marcia Kash
Performed by Jayme Armstrong, Paul Brown, Gordon Gammie, Kyle Golemba, Gabrielle Jones.
Produced by Drayton Entertainment
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, St. Jacobs
April 16 to May 3, 2015
Reviewed by Mary Alderson