By Janet Ingram-JohnsonSpecial to the Langley Advance
The title of the play may be Old Love, but for Barb Coulter it’s definitely a new (and she hopes lasting) passion.
The seasoned thespian is taking on director’s duties for the first time as Langley Players present its first offering of 2017: a romantic comedy-drama that many people feel could be famed Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s best work yet.
Coulter has been involved with Langley Players since 2009. As well as acting (Office Hours, The Stillborn Lover, Self-Help), behind the scenes she has been a stage manager, co-producer, assistant director, and props procurer.
A Langley resident and teacher, her son Dylan is also an actor and playwright who will be making his own directorial debut this summer with Bard in the Valley’s production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
“Old Love is a comedy with heartache,” Coulter said. “I call it a ‘dramedy’. It’s a character-driven play, set in both the present and the past, through a series of transitions of time and place. It features two lead characters, both older and younger versions of themselves, plus their respective spouses.”
Bud Mitchell (played by Langley’s own Ken Boyd) is a quirky, divorced father of one son, and Molly Graham (played by fellow Langleyite Gemma Martini) is newly widowed and at her husband’s funeral as the play begins.
Bud, an old acquaintance, emerges to pay his respects, which leads to a re-awakening
of forgotten emotions and memories as his 25-year infatuation with Molly is revealed.
Old Love is a story of romance, courtship and relationships between older adults, the director said.
“The overall theme is that love is ageless. It comes from the heart, unhindered by age or financial status. It is never too late for people of any age to fall in love,” she elaborated.
“Patrons will love this play because the characters are real, flawed human beings with the insecurities, vulnerabilities and regrets that we can all recognize. It’s one of Norm Foster’s best-written comedies.”
The play is in two acts with an intermission and runs about 100 minutes.
There is no nudity and very little strong language.
The show runs Jan. 19 to Feb. 18, Thursdays to Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees on Jan. 22, 29, and Feb. 5 and 12, at 2 p.m. at the Langley Playhouse, 4307 200th St.
Tickets are $15 each and available at reservations@langleyplayers.com, or by calling 604-534-7469.
