Vicky Morrison joins veteran HAWK Theatre actors in "Sex Please, We're Sixty"

Vicky Morrison of Lucknow, has joined the merry band of veteran HAWK Theatre actors, in the delightful romp, “Sex Please, We're Sixty,” which opens Thursday, April 28, at the Lucknow Town Hall Theatre.

 

Owner/operator of Grassroots Rural Retreat, on Highway 86, east of Lucknow, Morrison says she has wanted to audition for a play for a long time.

 

When director Maureen Matchett showed her a copy of the script, she jumped at the chance to try out.

 

“This is a very funny play,” says Morrison, “and the subject matter is all about where I am in life so it fits perfectly! This group is wonderful and I'm having a lot of fun.”

 

She acted in the "Railroad to Ripley" play at last year's Ripley Reunion, and performed in “The Vagina Monologues” on Valentine's Day at the town hall, but has never been on the HAWK Theatre stage.

 

“It's challenging to learn all those lines, but what's even harder is to act them out as my character (romance novelist Victoria Ambrose),” says Morrison. “ I have a much better appreciation for actors now.”

 

While she is excited and nervous about opening night, Morrison has enjoyed rehearsals and is always prepared to try something new – and in this case, acting.

 

She and her husband, Roger, have two children, Blair and Stephanie, and a grandchild on the way. When she's not acting or working at Grassroots Rural Retreat, Morrison enjoys teaching yoga, gardening and being in the outdoors.

 

Joining Morrison on stage, are Bill Cooper as Bud Davis, Lynn Shepherd-Adamson as Mrs. Stancliffe, Jonathan Nelson as Henry Mitchell, Lynne Jewson as Hillary Hudson and Vivien King-Sherwood as Charmaine Beauregard.

 

The play tells the story of Mrs. Stancliffe, the proprietress of the successful Rose Cottage bed and breakfast. Her older female guests return year after year, perhaps to experience romance with her elderly, silver-tongued neighbour, Bud “the Stud” Davis.

 

Mrs. Stancliffe's other neighbour, and would-be suitor, is Henry Mitchell, a retired chemist who has developed a blue pill called “Venusia” to increase the libido of menopausal women.

 

Add to the guest list three older women: Victoria Ambrose, a romance novelist whose personal life lacks romance; Hillary Hudson, a friend of Henry's who has agreed to test the Venusia; and Charmaine Beauregard, a southern belle, whose libido does not need to be increased.

 

Bud attempts to seduce all three women, but they discover his antics and plot their revenge, swapping out his precious little blue pills for Venusia. That's when the fun begins as the Venusia causes Bud and, inadvertently Henry, to suffer women's menopausal symptoms.

 

Once the mayhem settles down, all the women find their lives moving in new and surprising directions.

 

The play was written by Michael and Susan Parker (R) of the United States. Actors and playwrights, they enjoy writing about older people.

 

“We are purveyors of laughter, and in 'Sex Please, We're Sixty,' we conceived the idea of men having female menopausal symptoms because we thought it would make people laugh,” said Michael, via E-mail. “It was that simple. We also know that we have to write plots to which audiences can relate. The sad fact is, that in most theatres today, the average age of the audience is well over 60. We have also found that a much larger percentage of volunteers in community theatres, are over 50 than under 30. So, we created stage roles for 'the older actors'."

 

The play was first produced by Play With Your Food Productions In Hemet, California, Oct. 17, 2008.

 

“This dinner theatre had previously produced several of our plays, and when they asked for a world premier, and were able to meet our stipulations, we were delighted to give it to them,” said Michael. “Susan was teaching school at the time (she has since retired) so I was out there for the last two weeks of rehearsals and opening night.

 

“I met Susan at the airport the next day and she asked me, 'How did it go?' My response was, 'We have to make some significant changes to Act 2.' She, of course, asked why. My answer was, because it's too funny. The audience is 'laughed out.' They are exhausted, They are weeping with laughter. We subsequently made changes to the pace of certain segments, and the result was a much better-balanced play. It has since been produced by more than 200 theatres.”

 

While the title of the play may seem provocative, Michael said nobody has ever walked out of any of their shows.

 

“Our plays are squeaky clean,” he said. “They are all based on the traditional British farce, i.e. naughty but nice. No bad language (never even a damn), no nudity or excess flesh, no overt sexual activity. Yes, there are sexual innuendos and glimpses of tasteful sexy underwear. Interestingly, we are Immensely  popular across the so-called 'Bible Belt' of the United States. As playwrights, we are very much aware that we can shock an audience, we can surprise an audience, we can rock an audience with uncontrolled laughter, but what we must never do is offend an audience.”

 

“Sex Please, We're Sixty,” opens with a gala event Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m., featuring complimentary appetizers, a silent auction, and a meet-and-greet with cast and crew. The play continues April 29-30, May 5-7, at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:30 p.m. matinee May 1. A cash bar will be open at all performances.

 

Tickets are $15 each, plus $5 each for the gala opening night; available at Jerome Flowers in Kincardine, Ripley Variety in Ripley, Everlastings Flowers and Gifts in Lucknow, the Lucknow Public Library, Earth Angel in Wingham, All Around the House in Goderich, or by calling Donald at 519-528-3019.

 

An elevator is available in the theatre for those with mobility concerns.