The Love List is full of surprises
AUTHOR: BRIAN LOCKHART - SPECIAL
What would happen if the perfect person walked into your life? The one that seemed too good to be true; the one you have been searching for all your life. That's the premise in the Blackhorse Village Players production of The Love List.
Written by Canadian playwright Norm Foster and directed by Blackhorse veteran Cheryl Phillips, the stage is set in an apartment occupied by a middle aged man whose life revolves around his job as a statistician.
Larry Hines takes on the role of Bill, a man who can quote statistics off the top of his head and lives surrounded by stacks of newspapers and books in his cluttered abode. Hines has been on the stage in numerous Blackhorse productions and has gained a reputation as a talented actor with a gift for comedic roles. He has also authored a play that was produced by the theatre.
On his 50th birthday, Bill's best and only friend Leon, takes him out to celebrate and gives him a gift that he thinks will add some zest to his rather dull and lonely existence. This is Craig Butler's first appearance on stage. In the role of Leon, a self absorbed writer of cheap novels and a notorious womanizer, Butler fills the part easily and delivers a well paced and comical performance. Leon gives Bill a membership to a dating service that is run by a mysterious Gypsy woman. To find his perfect match he must fill out a love list of the ten qualities he would most desire in a mate. After some prodding from Leon, and a few disagreements over what should be on the list, Bill creates his own top ten of desirable qualities he would like in a partner.
Enter Justine - an ambitious, straight forward, supportive, and agreeable woman - at least for the time being. Veteran actor Christine Murray is Justine and takes full advantage of the role of a woman whose mood swings from coy and demure to zany and downright dangerous at the drop of a hat. At first Bill is thrilled with Justine's impromptu appearance at his apartment believing the dating service has done a thorough job of finding him a perfect match. She anticipates his every desire and seems to find his work as a statistician to be fascinating. But when Leon drops by for a visit the next day he tells him he never had a chance to drop off the love list to the Gypsy. So who is Justine really? She's a mystery wrapped in a riddle with the ability to turn Bill's world upside down.
The Love List is a fast-paced, clever production with some great zingers and performances that draw you into the play and keep you laughing.The play continues its run on the Blackhorse Village Players stage in their theatre on Highway 9 at Mount Wolfe Road through to January 31. For tickets or more information call the box office at 905-880-5001 or visit the BVP website at wwww.blackhorse.ca.
