on DTNicholson's Wednesday-Night.com

This year, Infinitheatre celebrates its tenth anniversary with an exceptional reward from Placement Culture, an endowment program established by the conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec.

“For all the money that Infinitheatre raises within a year, they will double that amount to put into an endowment fund,” said Infinitheatre spokesperson Barbara Ford, who stressed that smaller theatre companies have a difficult time competing with larger theatres for government funds. The predominantly Anglophone local theatre hopes to maximize ticket sales in order to receive a grant that will establish a foundation for future generations.

From left to right: Diana Nicholson, Kevin Tierney, Michael Shafter, Spencer Wuest. Photo: Robert J. Galbraith

“Having it at the Saidye Bronfman Centre is great too, because it allows them to have more seats,” said Ford, who expects to raise a total of $12,000 in ticket sales if the four shows are sold out.

Prescription for Murder deals with most of Westmount’s latest controversies: setting up artificial turf on soccer fields and the construction of the over-budget mega hospital. The play takes place in a midst of an ice storm in a home clinic in Westmount, where a flood forces half a dozen patients to get stuck in the doctor’s front hallway.

“The situation is like a huit-clos where people can’t come and go for whatever reason,” said Sprung, who was inspired by Agatha Christie’s story-telling style. “It’s a lot of fun, and there are a lot of local references.”

The play forces conflicting characters to gather in one common room, sparking laughter and mayhem. A sporadic black-out persuades a murderer to take his revenge on a different character every time the lights shut off. The stage welcomes the Royal Duchess of Westmount, a war veteran with recycling amnesia, and four different actors for the honorary role of mayor of Westmount—Canadian producer of Bon Cop/Bad Cop Kevin Tierney, local businessman Michael Shafter, Wednesday-Night salon co-host Diana Nicholson and a 12-year-old Spencer Wuest.

“While they might not have long extensive experience on the stage, they have their own strong personalities that they bring to the characters they play,” said Sprung about his amateur cast who have participated in Infinitheatre’s fundraising events for many years. “If we can make it work then it means very defined and rich people on stage.”

Infinitheatre has been described by critics as “one of the most vital theatre companies in Montreal” because of its successful mandate to give Quebec writers the opportunity to develop and produce their work. A few years ago, Infinitheatre helped Trevor Ferguson, a talented writer with no theatre experience, to get his play “Long, Long, Short, Long” produced at the Monument-National. Today, Ferguson’s fourth play which will soon premiere on Broadway in New York City.

Internationally recognized artistic director Sprung is no stranger to big-budget theatre productions and famous actors, but he said the most inspirational theatre is right around the corner in your hometown.

“The best theatre is always local and it always comes from the roots,” said Sprung when asked about his motivation to take part in low-budget productions. “Whether it’s Shakespeare or Molière, or the Greeks, it always starts with the issues of one area.”

Prescription for Murder will be performed at the Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre at the Saydie Bronfman Centre for the Arts, 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine Road on Jan.7, 9 10 and 11. General admission is $100 and for Infinitheatre members it is $90. Call the box office at 514.987-1774 ext.3. Donations are welcomed at 5413 Boul St-Laurent #302, Montreal, Qc, H2T 1S5.

Infinitheatre writes a prescription for local satire

Prescription for Murder was just what the doctor ordered: comedy, drama and $50,000—four times more than what Infinitheatre initially expected to take in with their annual fundraising event.

And it only gets better from here. For every dollar the theatre raises within the next year, Placement Culture, a provincial endowment program, will double it, establishing an investment program that will ensure the troupe’s long-term survival.

Prescription for Murder, directed by Infinitheatre artistic director Guy Sprung, rounded up a one-of a-kind team of hard-working professionals and self-motivating amateur actors, aged 12 to 82 years, to perform in front of a packed theatre at the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts last week for an exclusive world premiere.

“It was an extremely interesting set and it was very well directed,” said Westmount resident Graham Nesbitt. “The movements were good, the timing was perfect and that it was an extremely amusing plot.”

The play is set up in a Westmount home clinic where a horrendous ice storm forces conflicting characters to one common room for an entire day—sparking romance, laughter and tragic, bloody murders. The highly-opinionated and flirtatious general practitioner Dr. Gerda Maysonne welcomes a variety of patients, including a 12-year-old Mayor of Westmount, feisty Royal Duchess of Westmount Rose Belmont and her punk nephew Justin, Mr. Phelan, an old man who loses his memory every 47 seconds, and his loveable niece, Mary.

As the body count starts to rise during the sporadic black-outs of the ice storm, a ‘bilingual’ francophone officer, Inspector Phyllis Luella McLeeks, shows up with her identical evil twin (oops, I gave it away!).

Prescription for Murder was especially entertaining to its Montreal audience because of its many references to local radio personalities and politicians, as well as timely issues such as the $2 billion over-budget mega-hospital and the public health care system.

“I’ve seen a couple of the actors in a few other pieces,” said audience member Linda Poirier, referring to Irene Smyth Simons, Gus O’Gorman and Heidi Luber Teller, who are all amateur actors who have donated their time and talent to Infinitheatre’s yearly benefits. “I see them develop and their work is always better than the one before.”

Smyth Simons, who played the leading role of Dr. Maysonne, explained the difficulty in balancing her real-life Westmount home clinic with her dedication to the theatre.

“I must admit my patients got a little bit neglected this week,” she said with a laugh.

Even director Guy Sprung admitted the production was no walk in the park. “It’s difficult to do because they’re doing it on their spare time,” said Sprung. “So it was hard to get an hour here and an hour there.”

Only in theatre would you see a 12-year-old Mayor of Westmount, played by Spencer Wuest, who visited the clinic for a flu shot and growth hormone pills. “I was nervous at the beginning, but when I came on, I had a great time,” said Wuest, whose role was also filled by Diana Nicholson, Kevin Tierney and Michael Shafter on a rotational basis.

Professional actors such as Stephanie Breton, Julien Elia, Vincent Hoss-Desmarais and Veronick Raymons worked side-by-side with amateur actors, including 82-year-old Pam Dunn.

“I hadn’t been on stage in over 40 years so it really gets the memories going,” said Dunn, who played Rose Belmont, the Royal Duchess of Westmount. “It was a very rewarding experience because a part of the cast was made up of professional actors and I learned a lot from them.”

Even though the cast was part professional and part amateur, it was difficult t to tell who was who—they were all at ease on stage. But how does an 82-year-old feel on stage in front of hundreds of people?

“It didn’t bother me at all—which

surprised me,” responded Dunn, who has over 30 years of experience in amateur theatre. “It just seemed to come right back.”

It took intense, hard work for Dunn to learn her lengthy lines, but she doesn’t regret it one bit. When asked whether or not she would do it again soon, she responded, “Yes I would, but not for a year or so... I don’t think I’d be ready to start another play tomorrow!”

• Infinitheatre launches its second production, The Elephant Song, on Jan. 18 at the Bain St-Michel, 5300 St-Dominique. General admission is $25, for Infinitheatre members, seniors and students it’s $15. For reservations, call 514-987-1774 ext. 3.

Doctor prescribes herself a dose of theatre

BILL BROWNSTEIN, The Gazette

Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2006

It is a tale of murder and mayhem set against an ice storm and a mega-hospital that has gone $2 billion over budget. Nefarious pharmaceutical companies seek to silence - permanently - a popular doctor, and a courageous cop puts his life at risk trying to battle the forces of evil. Oh yeah, and the action takes place in Montreal.

Some are calling it fiction. Others aren't so certain.

The play is Prescription for Murder, a fundraiser for Infinitheatre, which makes its premiere Jan. 7 at the Saidye Bronfman Centre. The piece smacks of Agatha Christie and was apparently penned by a protege of hers, the suspiciously named Day Magatha. And the production's lead player suggests that art imitates life here - sort of.

Irene Simons, a popular long-time Montreal general practitioner, is cast in the pivotal role of Dr. Maysonne - a franco play on the name of the TV doctor House. "I play myself to a point, a doctor of a certain age - my age - who is violently opposed to the mega-hospital," she says.

"In reality, I'm not violently opposed to the superhospital. I just have serious misgivings and I am very dubious about the entire concept."

Simons, on whose life the play was based, believes the role is somewhat of a caricature, and exaggerated for effect. Others don't agree.

"It's just great to know what people really think of you," she cracks. "Honestly, though, this is not a very flattering character. She may have principles, but she has lots of enemies who would like her to disappear."

Among the ever-growing list of would-be culprits are drug-company bosses, her nurse and a handful of boyfriends who feel betrayed. And yet Simons says it's all rather comedic, too. Amidst the daggers and guns are scenes of great frivolity entailing much knitting, eating and rapid-fire one-liners, many involving Dr. Maysonne and the mayor of Westmount.

To add a little more spice to proceedings, Infinitheatre artistic director Guy Sprung has cast four different characters to play the mayor in each of the show's four presentations. They range from a 12-year-old student to Bon Cop/Bad Cop producer Kevin Tierney, who - big surprise - is supposed to be the least understated of the bunch in his professional stage debut.

Despite her day job, Simons is no novice thespian. Prescription for Murder marks her fourth straight Infinitheatre benefit performance. A seasoned ham, she's also done fundraisers for the Geordie and Centaur companies, in addition to a paid gig in George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara at the Saidye Bronfman Centre three years ago.

"I had always dreamed of being an actress and was even accepted at the National Theatre School, but my mother told me I had to make a living and that I was no Liz Taylor," Simons recalls. "Fortunately, I had always dreamed of being a doctor, too."

Simons does admit, though, that prancing around on a stage does offer an immediate emotional release from the rigours of being a general practitioner in this province.

"Ultimately, though, in the play as well as in real life, no one gets out unscathed."

Prescription for Murder, a fundraiser for Infinitheatre, is being staged at the Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre of the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, 5170 Cote Ste. Catherine Rd., Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. and Jan. 9 to 11 at 8 p.m. For more information and reservations, call 514-987-1774.

bbrownst@thegazette.canwest.com

2008

2007

Just what the director ordered

JENNIFER CAMPBELL, Freelance

Westmount gets skewered in Infinitheatre fundraiser

By Stephanie Bento

Infinitheatre writes a prescription for local satire

By Stephanie Bento Westmount Ex

Doctor prescribes herself a dose of theatre

BILL BROWNSTEIN, The Gazette

GUY SPRUNG- ARTISTIC DIRECTOR