There is nothing more satisfying for an audience than seeing and enjoying a good story unfold before their eyes in a darkened theatre, and Norm Foster’s comedies offer us stories with a glimmer of hope and much-needed laughter in this otherwise cynical and increasingly unfeeling world.
"Opening Night" takes us behind the scenes of a professional theatre production, where we witness the backstage, and on-stage chaos, the nervous excitement, and the tangled web of personal and professional relationships. However, it goes one step further by also incorporating the interactions and stories of regular theatre patrons into the backstage life it focuses on. Some of the theatre characters in the play may often represent archetypes found in any profession – and believe me, I have met and worked with most of them in my career.
Someone once said that comedy is the most democratic and straightforward form of entertainment. If the audience laughs, then it’s funny, if not, well, then it’s not!
Contrary to popular belief, the secret to comedy, despite the old cliché, isn’t just timing. The primary factor must be believability. An audience must be able to believe in the premise upon which the play is founded. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the premise must be real, but that one must buy into the behavior of the characters, the viability of their needs and desires, the basic humanity that powers them, often obsessively, and sometimes even insanely, through the pursuit of their goals.
I believe that going to the theatre is indeed a special occasion. The uniqueness of the medium is that the audience and actors share a moment in time that cannot be recaptured, a shared experience to be treasured for years to come. What makes each live theatre performance different and unique though, is that it is shaped by a new audience every time. So, thank you, our patrons, for joining us today to witness the magic and joy that live theatre can bring.
An especially big thank you, and much gratitude, to the talented and dedicated team, cast, crew, marketing, and producers, whose passion and commitment have brought this play to life in ways that exceeded my expectations.
Keep calm and go to the theatre!
Costin Manu, Director of “Opening Night”
