A sin to pass on ‘Sinners’
Weaving through a sea of happy children rehearsing for an upcoming show, I made my way down through the bowels of the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre to the Barbara Barrett Theatre.
Though not as grand as its upstairs counterpart, the Barbara Barrett Theatre holds a special place in my heart — probably because I always leave the theatre feeling good about the production I just saw.
This is how I felt on Wednesday after opening night of “Sinners.” A Norm Foster play presented by Nothing On Productions, this show is a laughout-loud comedic delight. I highlight the “laugh-out-loud” part, because I actually did LOL, as they say.
I’m more of a crack-a-smile-and-grunt-“ha” kind of girl, so this was an impressive feat.
An elaborate set portrayed a living room and bedroom where this story would be told. The sixperson cast made good use of the space, telling the humourous and slightly complicated story in under two hours.
The complications involved in the tale was what made the play so funny.
“Sinners” revolves around Monica Lloyd (Anna Stassis), a married woman, and Peter Kramer (Chris Panting), a single furniture store owner. T
he pair is having an affair behind the back of Monica’s husband, the local reverend (Jon Aylward).
Peter is stressed out about their affair, having decided that the whole thing is immoral and far too risky. Monica tries to alleviate his qualms, primarily by using lust-inducing tactics.
As it would soon turn out, Peter’s concerns were valid, when the pair is interrupted by Reverend Lloyd, returning early from a business trip.
Startled by his presence, Peter hits the Reverend in the head with an alarm clock. This fateful blow kills the Reverend — or so it seems.
As the pair attempts to cover up the murderous mistake, their elaborate scheme continues to become more tangled when they are interrupted by Mrs. Gillis (Jill Kennedy), who is looking for the Reverend.
Mistaking Peter as the Reverend, she confesses her concerns that her husband is cheating on her. Peter tries to rush her out the door, but Mrs. Gillis is adamant in telling her tale — her husband is cheating on her with the Reverend’s wife.
This is a surprise to Peter, who believes that Monica’s infidelity extends only to him. Another concern arises when the pair realizes that Mrs. Gillis can identify Peter, and place him at the crime scene.
The crime and its convoluted cover-up bring the audience on a wild ride. Talks of a murdersuicide, Mrs. Gillis’s impromptu visit, the police chief’s nosy wife (Janet Mcdonald) and the chief’s (George Robertson) upcoming bid for mayor all complicate matters.
Will Peter and Monica make it out of this mess alive?
Though it seems I have already told you so many details, I’ve still managed to leave you completely in the dark.
You’ll have to head to the Barbara Barrett Theatre to unravel the rest of this hilarious murder mystery.
“Sinners” runs until Oct. 7 at the Barbara Barrett Theatre, with a matinee on October 7.