Cote St. Luc Dramatic Society – Just in time for the Valentine’s Day period, the (CSLDS) is presenting for their winter mainstage production something quite heartwarming during this quite cold time of the year.
Almost, Maine by John Cariani is regarded as one of the most popular and widely produced plays over the past decade. This anthology-type humorous romance is actually a collection of 11 short plays that take place in 10-minute intervals in the mythical town of Almost, Maine during one chilly day in February at the same period of time (8:50 p.m., to be exact), in which its cast of 19 characters explore the common theme of love, whether it be first love, lost love, heartbreaking love or heartfelt love. The show, which was an Off-Broadway hit, will play for seven performances from February 20-24 at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium at Cote St. Luc City Hall, which is located on Cavendish Boulevard.
’Almost, Maine’ is just like the movie ‘Love, Actually’, but without the Christmas setting, said CSLDS Artistic Director Anisa Cameron, who is also helming the production as its director. It’s a realistic look at love, but with a mystical, quirky undertone to it, because face it, real people can be quirky.
Cote St. Luc City Councilor Mitch Kujavsky, who is also one of the show’s producers, believes the appeal of Almost, Maine is how it attracts audiences of any age group, which is also reflected by the many age groups that are represented in the cast. This play speaks to everyone, because every scene speaks to you in some way, shape or form, because all of us have dealt with the topic of love, he said.
And keeping with past CSLDS productions, Cote St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein will have an onstage role with the cast. This time, he is one half of a long lost childhood sweetheart pair in one of the play’s most poignant vignettes. It deals with first love and lost love, and focuses on two childhood sweethearts in which their relationship didn’t work out, because they married someone else, he said. There’s a great deal of reflection, because you ask yourself if the break up of this relationship was for the best? And what would it have been like if these two people actually got married to each other?
This is a witty, fun play, added Ms. Cameron. Also, during the course of these 10-minute intervals, something magical happens to these people of different ages and backgrounds with that common bond of love. It’s something that is perfectly heart warming, especially during these cold winter nights.
Tickets for Almost, Maine cost $25, $20 for students and seniors. They can be purchased at the Eleanor London Public Library on Cavendish Boulevard, the ACC on Parkhaven Avenue, online at www.csldramaticsociety.com, or at the door during the run of the show, just one hour prior to showtime.
