Wonderful Performances in "Exit the Body" at Carlyle
Once again the folks at Cornerstone have shown just how entertaining amateur theatre can be, with their sparkling production of Fred Carmichael's "Exit the body." Representatives of "The Observer" were invited to attend the Saturday evening performance at Carlyle on April 16, and what a wonderful event it turned out to be.
People started gathering for cocktails at 6 p.m, being greeted and shown to their tables by a very friendly and warm Marilyn Carter. The dinner was served at 7 p.m. and was superbly catered by Shelley and David Slykhuis, and then patrons made their way upstairs to the theatre shortly before 8 p.m. with some making use of the building's newly-fitted elevator for the first time.
The show itself was a long one, spanning some three hours, including two brief intermissions. It is set in 1961 in New England. Mystery writer Crane Hammond (played by Dianne Twietmeyer) rents a summer house with her Secretary Kate Bixley (Joan Bue.) If the women hope for a quiet summer, it's not to be, since the previous occupier hid some jewels in the building, and everyone seems to know about them. Various characters weave their way in and out of the storyline and become caught up in the search for the missing "ice," with all of them eventually meeting in the semi-darkness at 2 a.m.
The show was full of exquisite surprises and hilarious moments played to perfection by the actors. Memorable performances abounded from each member of the cast. David Slykhuis was superb as the gloriously camp Lyle Rogers, and Evelyn Cullum effortlessly reduced the audience to roaring laughter with her stooped pose and sloth-like motions across the stage. And just how did "Philip," who had lost his memory, stay on the stage? Actor Jesse Twietmeyer looked as if he'd end up in the laps of the front row spectators at any moment with his enthusiastic swaying.
But it was those unscripted moments that delighted the audience. At one time a shout of "O my God!" went up from somewhere in the crowd, even the actors on stage were unable to hide their mirth at that! There was also the case of the delayed light switch, bringing a smile to the face of sheriff Vernon Cookley, played by Dean Albano. Dean also raised the roof when he came in the front door a little late for his repeated cue from Crane Hammond, only to say "I heard ya!"
In short, this was a marvellous production. The acting was great, the set totally believable, the work of the production crew seamless, and the direction by Doug Waldner highly enjoyable. When the final scene was completed, with the cast thereafter dancing around the stage to "Rock around the clock tonight," the audience responded with a genuinely-felt and greatly-deserved standing ovation. Well done Cornerstone!
