EVENT: (Penetanguishene, Ontario) Who's Under Where?

Photo: Susie Burnett, Jason Adam Clarke, Catherine McNally (credit: Farzen Photography)

Who’s Under Where?

Lingerie Inspired Farce Shines at the King’s Wharf Theatre

Friday, August 19^th, 2011

PENETANGUISHENE – The summer season at the King’s Wharf Theatre would not be complete without a side-splitting farce to leave audiences rolling in the aisles. The theatre’s proud tradition of laugh-out-loud entertainment continues with Who’s Under Where?,
a cheeky comedy on stage now through September 3^rd. 

“Who’s Under Where? is a wonderful Canadian comedy with over-the-top characters and jaw-dropping one-liners that have everyone howling,” says Artistic Director Alex Mustakas. “It’s light-hearted and silly – just the thing to entertain us during the lazy days of summer.”

The story is set in a luxury hotel room where business partners Jane Pritchard and Sybil Brunt are shrewdly preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime. A famous Italian designer wants to negotiate a deal for their new line of men’s and women’s underwear. As they prepare for the meeting, the ladies believe they have anticipated every contingency. However, they certainly don’t expect the untimely arrival of their jealous husbands, who suspect that this secretive rendezvous involves nothing less than a scandalous affair.  

Mistaken identities, double entendres, startling revelations, and subsequent hasty inventions are all part of a madcap plot linking suspicious spouses, stolen underwear, a scantily clad model, and a lecherous security guard.  The result is a farce that’s hysterically funny!

Marcia Kash directs a brilliant cast through the twists and turns of Who’s Under Where?. Kash is the ideal director for this production, as she is also the play’s co-creator along with Doug Hughes. An internationally produced playwright with multiple shows to her credit, Kash has directed previous productions for Drayton Entertainment, including the popular farces See How They Run, Boeing-Boeing and Not Now, Darling, making her very familiar with this genre and capable of bringing out the comedic best in each actor.      

“We are delighted to have Marcia Kash direct this production” says Mustakas. “With one of the co-creators at the helm of this hysterical show, theatregoers can expect a traditional farce of the highest quality.” 

Susie Burnett shines in her role as the delightfully wacky lingerie designer Jane Prichard, and her business partner, Sybil Brunt, is played by Catherine McNally, whose quick-witted humour is spot on. 

This comic duo is a delight to watch and their great charisma is maintained throughout the two acts, as their characters’ desire to surprise their husbands with news of their big break in the lingerie business is the catalyst for a truly riotous plot.

Paul Pritchard and George Brunt, Jane and Sybil’s jealous husbands, are wonderfully portrayed by Nigel Hamer and Brad Rudy. As the two men slowly begin to question their wives’ fidelity, they gradually become overwhelmed with suspicion and jealousy. Naturally, they convince themselves that spying on their wives is necessary to get to the bottom of their secrecy. And, as you would expect from a first rate farce, their fears are confirmed when they discover their wives in a luxury hotel room replete with skimpy lingerie and pictures of male models!  

Hamer and Rudy evoke non-stop audience laughter, demonstrating their knack for slapstick comedy by delivering hilarious lines while maintaining their composure and staying true to their characters.    

Ian Deakin is remarkable in his portrayal of the overly lustful and often inappropriate hotel security guard, Roger Hodge. New to Drayton Entertainment this year, theatregoers may recognize Deakin from his dazzling performance as Edna Turnblad in this season’s production  of Hairspray, which played to jam-packed houses at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. 

Robin Ward, a seasoned performer in film, television and stage, brings forth just the right amount of confidence to elicit plenty of laughs as Bruno Fruferelli¸ a famous Italian fashion designer. And making his Drayton Entertainment debut is Jason Adam Clarke as Sebastian, a fit male model who grabs the audience’s attention when he is retained to showcase the ladies “Passion Fashion Wear” line. 

Set Designer, Allan Wilbee has succeeded in creating an opulent hotel room that would be worthy of the greatest names in Fashion, while Lighting Designer Wright Staines’ sets the perfect mood for a plethora of outrageous scenes of this fanatical farce.    

Costume Designer Angela VanderVeen has clearly had fun designing the pieces for the “Passion Fashion Wear” lingerie line.  Her costumes are perfectly suited to each character in this wild and wacky play and even when those who find themselves, at times, in rather “delicate” situations.   

“This comedic gem has everything – mistaken identities, double entendres, startling revelations and plenty of laughter,” says Mustakas.  “It’s only fitting we cap off another summer of stellar entertainment on the shores of Georgian Bay with a fun, flirty farce.”

Who’s Under Where? is proudly sponsored by /A\ Channel, Barrie and The Free Press. Media Sponsors are KICX 106 and Orillia Today. The Design Sponsor is H.S. St. Amant & Sons Mechanical Contractors.

Who’s Under Where? runs until September 3^rd. Order your tickets today by calling the King’s Wharf Theatre Box Office at (705) 549-5555 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866). For more information, please visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.kingswharftheatre.com" www.kingswharftheatre.com.