Victoria theatre to welcome back live audience for first time since pandemic began
Victoria's Blue Bridge Theatre is set to launch its new season with a classic love story.
Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune is about two people who meet for a one-night stand and discover the potential for a deeper love.
The Tony-nominated Terence McNally play has been revived multiple times on Broadway and was turned into a movie in 1991 starring Michelle Pfieffer and Al Pacino.
Although it was written during the late 1980s, director Brian Richmond says the theme remains relevant today.
“Mr. McNally decided he wanted to write a play about connection, and the importance of connection, and about the importance of love and finding love, no matter what stage you happen to be in your life,” Richmond says.
“I hope they find hope in this,” says Kelly Hobson who plays Frankie. “Especially in a time like this during the COVID pandemic. We’re all a little afraid to love each other at this moment and show that love, and I feel like this play kind of hits home with that a little bit.”
The director describes it as a little bit “salty” as it contains some nudity and coarse language.
“Probably the audience in the first few second will go, ‘Oh, they are just going to be dropping swear words,'” says Jacob Richmond, who plays Johnny, a short-order cook. “It actually starts to build throughout the two hours and turns into something quite poetic.”
“It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for sure,” adds Hobson. “Sort of a mix between comedy and drama. It’s sweet, it’s funny, it’s tough and it’s beautiful.”
This will be Blue Bridge's first full-capacity production since the start of the pandemic and the cast and crew are excited to perform in front of a live audience.
“I’m very excited,” Jacob says. “There’s an unfathomable thing that happens when it’s live bodies in a room watching live bodies performing.”
“There’s nothing like the energy of a full house,” beams Hobson. “It just brings so much to the show and to the actors.”
There will also be a livestream available for those who can’t make it in person or prefer watching from the comfort of their home. Either way, the cast and crew hope people will support the theatre and buy a ticket.
Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune opens Thursday at the Roxy Theatre and runs through Nov. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.