Lots of laughs in Always a Bridesmaid at Caledon Townhall Players : Caledon Citizen : https://caledoncitizen.com

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Lots of laughs in Always a Bridesmaid at Caledon Townhall Players

By Bill Rea
The idea of “friends forever” can add up to wonderful times, and also chaos.
And when these friends get married (more than once, in some cases) and the friends are always asked to be in the wedding party, there can be a lot of unanticipated consequences. There's also room for plenty of laughs, which is the case with Jessie Jones's, Nicholas Hope's and Jamie Wooten's Always a Bridesmaid, which is currently being presented by the Caledon Townhall Players.
Four young ladies took a vow when they were girls to be bridemaids at each others' weddings. Time goes by, and all four keep their pledges, over the years, with sometimes hilarious results, not to mention countless pithy one-liners.
They are there for Monette (played by Cathy Montgomery), who is tying the knot for the third time, her first marriage coming right out of high school.
“Those were the best six weeks of my entire life,” she says.
They are there for Charlie (Melinda Briel), who's going to the altar for the first time and is having second thoughts.
“Can I really marry into a family that thinks gravy is a beverage?” she asks.
They're there for Deedra (Joanne Hopkinson) at her second wedding. Her ex crashes the ceremony and a brawl ensues.
“One of my greatest strengths is giving advice that I would never follow,” she reflects.
And they are there for Libby Ruth (Margaret Brady), who observes “marriage can be fun, if you enjoy it like the adventure it is,” as her daughter Kari (played by Hopkinson's daughter Sara) heads down the isle.
Each scene is preceded by Kari, decked out in a beautiful wedding gown, offering segments of the address at her own wedding, sipping champagne in the process.
“Throwing the perfect wedding . . . looks really easy until you try it,” she says.
The play, directed by Mark Tiller and produced by Judy Lewis, is set in the waiting room of a wedding facility in the American south. It sees various changes over the years and between scenes. The place is run by Sedalia (Kim Blacklock), who can take charge when she needs to, sometimes literally brandishing an axe.
“Let's slam this turkey in the oven,” she shouts as she lines the ladies up for one of the nuptials.
It's an all-women cast, and with just six parts, there's plenty of opportunity for everyone to get their own scene-stealing moments, from Deedra and Charlie dealing with hangovers, to Monette's wedding night advice — “Never do anything you'd be embarrassed to explain to the paramedics.”
Considerable effort went into the costumes, of which Pam Niesiobedzski was in charge. One of the women decides on a French theme for her wedding, and the three bridesmaids liberally apply their own interpretations, meaning one shows up dressed as a can-can dancer, another as a French maid and the third as Marie Antoinette.
“Let them eat wedding cake,” she exclaims at one point.
Sherry's Bridal Boutique in Caledon village received thanks for helping with the production.
This fast-moving play will be performed tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday nights at the Townhall theatre in Caledon village. Curtain is at 8:15 p.m. with a 2:15 matinee Saturday.
Call the Box Office at 519-927-5460 for ticket reservations.

The cast of Always a Bridesmaid consists of Cathy Montgomery, Margaret Brady, Sara Hopkinson, Kim Blacklock, Joanne Hopkinson and Melinda Briell.
Photo by Bill Rea

Post date: 2016-05-12 15:27:55
Post date GMT: 2016-05-12 19:27:55
Post modified date: 2016-05-17 11:29:59
Post modified date GMT: 2016-05-17 15:29:59