INNISFAIL - Social Security, Innisfail Town Theatre's (ITT) latest production, had audiences laughing and theatregoers leaving with smiles on their faces.
Social Security ran from Nov. 23 to Dec. 10 at the Ol' Moose Hall in Innisfail.
This year's fall ITT production was produced by Terri Hart and directed by Norma Hoppins and Pat Toyata. It included a hard-working cast that brought their characters to life in this fun-loving romantic comedy by Andrew Bergman.
The two-act play opens in an apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y., where David and Barbara Kahn live. We are introduced to these two characters, portrayed by Paul Hoffman and Leah Adams, as an upper-class happily married couple who enjoy their lives and careers. They do a good job of keeping the audience entertained until Barbara's sister and brother-in-law, Trudy and Martin Heyman arrive -- portrayed by Liz Bennett and Robbin Edgar. They are a middle-class couple that has cared for Barbara and Trudy's mother for several years.
Trudy is a loud, somewhat obnoxious type of character with a strong New York accent, while her husband Martin is a funny character who provides plenty of comic relief throughout the play.
Social Security revolves around Barb and Trudy's mother Sophie Greengrass, portrayed by Dona Edgar. Sophie moves in with Barbara and David after Trudy and Martin learn how difficult she can be to live with.
The second act is where the play kicks into high gear, providing plenty of laughs, but also its share of more serious and tender moments. This is when Sophie meets an enchanting suitor, Maurice Koenig, an elderly and acclaimed artist who woos his new love interest. The two have a love affair much to the shock of her family.
While this romantic comedy may not have an ending as one would expect, it did certainly entertain, endear the audience and make you realize that with true love, “the fire never goes out.”
Innisfail Town Theatre's next production is Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling and runs from April 27 to May 13.
