Just Kiddin' pay homage to classic spies in new comedy
Posted Feb 19, 2010 By Charelle Evelyn
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Tweet ThisEMC Entertainment - The classic spy stories get a feminine twist when the new production from Metcalfe's Just Kiddin' theatre program hits the stage.
James Blond Gets Smart, an original work from executive director Andrie Nel, tells the tale of the suave James Blonde who has to work with the decidedly less-polished Maxine Smart to save the world.
The idea for the play came through suggestions from members of the previous year's production, said Ms. Nel
The tribute comedy takes advantage of old spy gadgets and the humour of the classic Get Smart television show, she said. It also draws on the tension between Mr. Blond and Mr. Smart as to who is the better spy. Is it the cool sophisticate, or the bumbling idiot?
Despite the scripted tension, the actors portraying Mr. Smart and Mr. BlondJessica Rogers and Vivian Vandewint respectivelyhave great chemistry.
"Those guys have it," said Ms. Nel. "There's magic happening."
Ms. Nel had high praise for the entire cast of students, who range between the ages of nine and 15. She said the group has a good mix of program veterans and first-time participants.
"The older kids are modeling well the discipline required to do theatre," she said.
According to Ms. Nel, all of the actors are also quite capably handling the new challenge thrown their way.
"Since it's a globe-trotting show, there are many characters with accents," she said. "It's the first time we're throwing this at them to learn."
Sydney Miller, who is also in the Just Kiddin' Stagecraft program, said the growth between she and her fellow cast mates has been noticeable since they began work in November.
"You can tell the difference people have made," she said. "They're really trying to explore their characters more."
There has been growth in the theatre program as well. Now on its seventh production, Just Kiddin' has recently incorporated as a non-profit organization and will be looking to offer summer camps, said Ms. Nel.
Ms. Nel has begun the new, more formal role, of executive director recent, and has stepped back from directing the play so that other volunteers can learn the ropes. First-time director Lisa Rogers leads this year's production.
"My goal is that the program (becomes) sustainable," Ms. Nel said.
James Blond Gets Smart runs March 5 - 7 at the Old Metcalfe Town Hall. Tickets are $6 and are available online from the theatre program's web site at ww.justkiddintheatre.com.
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