When the show must go on becomes a reality

By  Dafydd Young

It’s the rainy season. A time for thunderstorm, and problems  with those ugly electric boxes that hang on posts around Panama city like giant hornets’ nests.

Then comes the big bang, the power goes off, streets are darkened and the staff at Oldies  the neighboring water hole wait disconsolately for hours in the dark.

With no access to the internet, it’s time  for me to do some catch up work on stored photo files, and prepare for the dress rehearsal of two plays at the Ancon Theatre Guild {jathumbnail off}

When I last wrote about a performance by players at the Theatre Guild, I suggested that the phrase “it can’t get any better” was becoming an overworked cliché, because somehow  the next production  always did shine better

But last night, May 4, when  I  arrived at  the  homely and much loved  theater in Ancon for the dress rehearsal of a two play offering to kick off the rainy season,  a couple of dozen candles  were flickering on the balcony where audiences  usually gather at the bar for a pre-show warm up.

Was this a cute way of introducing reviewers to the performances?  The darkened parking lot gave a stronger clue. Yes, the local hornets’ nest had stopped buzzing, and there were no lights.

Out of the gloom stepped Amit Nathani, a long time Guild stalwart and producer of both plays to assure  us that this was not  a planned event, but tradition would be maintained and yes,  another hoary chestnut brought to life: “the show must go on”.

The  imbibing location had become the stage, and actors, producers, directors and all those  necessary providers usually hidden behind the scenes,  had been roped in to move the props to their new temporary home and to  become, the audience and, for once sharing the stage.

Candles had become footlights and flashlights, including one borrowed by Amit from the neighboring police station, were the spotlights, and the show was on.

And what a show.  Keep Me, was a perfect appetizer for the  meal that was to follow. Written, directed and acted in by  Brooklyn Sample  it was a  startlingly realistic performance of  Brooklyn’s brain child, the combination of two heroines from  Ibsen and Strindberg brought together as sisters.  In this  as modern as it gets tale,  Hedda Gabler and  Miss Julie find themselves dealing with  the same emotional struggles  that they faced in   the late 1800's, albeit speeded  up by a  few snorts of coke But did these troubled ladies have to die  at the end of the original plays?  Be sure  to visit and find the answer for yourself.

Seated only a few feet away from the actors, was like being a silent witness to a family drama acted out in  your own living room. Hedda (Brooklyn) and Julie (Melanie Gilpin) are the competing sisterly duo battling to save their home from libidinous John (Ricardo Argucia), who is not afraid to share his attributes with both sisters, although Julie needs little encouragment. A perfect trio of actors for a realistic and impressive first direction by Brooklyn, backed by Melanie as assistant director.

With  the  time limit imposed by the lighting conditions we got to share in only a few scenes of Bear Claw, but more than enough to once again get the feeling of being part of the action,  sitting in one corner of a retirement home, watching ones late golden age  companions act out their frustrations and regrets

Bear Claw is a one act drama that centers on Peter, a retired history  teacher with memory problems  and  little time left  to make some difficult decisions to help  make amends for past events. The central character, Peter Senior is realistically played by Gerry Dowden  whose voice you may have become familiar with on his morning radio gig, The Breakfast Show. (89.3 FM)  So here’s a chance to see the face behind the voice.

Andres Clemente  plays his role as the underachieving orderly  to a tee,  and HB Twohy  is the perfect frustrated son of the cantankerous old guy.

Luv Jhangimal, as the nurse, completes the quartet that provides a well acted peep into the lives of those in a world that, as the central character says “you get used to.”
The play is  superbly directed by  Hilary Hughes, with Amit Nathani as assistant director. The producers are Giancarlo Benedetti and Amit Nathani. 

And I have to restrain my fingers from typing  "It can't get any better.".
Performances start at 8 p.m. ,   May 12-13-14 and May 19-20-21at the Ancon Theatre Guild .