The Mercury Players truly bring tidings of comical ‘comfort and joy’ in their new production just in time for the season.
It was a full house in the Heritage Hall at Duncan United Church for the opening night of Mercury Player’s holiday production of Comfort and Joy on Dec. 7. Holiday cheer filled the room, from the Christmas decor to the exultant energy of all those in attendance. Playwright David King’s writing is sharp and witty, and under the direction of Mary Louise Phillips, the cast of four takes audiences on a holiday ‘joy’ ride.
READ MORE: Mercury Players brings holiday hilarity and heart to Duncan with ‘Comfort and Joy’
The play opens up with the kooky Joy played by Lisa Read admiring her reflection in the back of a spoon, as she calls for her son Mitch (Callum Hughes) who is off in the other room. Right from the get go, Read (last seen in Mercury’s Women Of Lockerbie) as Joy is as big and bright as a Christmas tree.
Joy, who was once an actress but was forced to give up the limelight due to stage fright, has a close and quirky relationship with her son Mitch who is a barista and an aspiring singer/songwriter. Hughes, who makes his first return to the stage since high school, brings an awkward boyish charm to the role, and watching this mother and son duo play off one another is a lot of fun.
Joy finds that her Christmas night plans take a sudden turn when Mitch discloses to her that Gini, the girl he has been seeing for only two weeks has invited him and his mother for Christmas dinner with her parents Ted and Marlie. He asks her that for the dinner, she remembers they are celebrating the ‘baby’ not the ‘rebel Jesus’ and if she is feeling uncomfortable and is unsure what to say, simply saying ‘Merry Christmas’ is a fabulous safe fallback.
As Joy’s apartment living room seamlessly becomes the upscale Shaughnessy abode of Ted (Jake Robinson) and Marlie (Elizabeth Brimacombe), hilarity is unwrapped quicker than a child’s gift on Christmas morning. Brimacombe brings much laughter as the lovable lush who is very much into the Christmas spirits as Mitch first arrives. Meanwhile Joy waits in the car, composing herself and practising her breathing until she eventually makes her vibrant entrance, displaying her playful personality.
The entire cast blends perfectly together like a holiday rum and eggnog. Robinson, who is happy to be back on stage after a hiatus, brings his cool and collected comedy to the laid-back role of Ted, while Brimacombe steals scenes like a cat burglar. Debs Howard’s portrayal of Mitch’s Christmas crush Gini is sweeter than holiday plum pudding. Howard, who is a film and television actor and has appeared in various Hollywood Hallmark movies, also plays the role of Gini’s twin sister Poey who makes her more sour guest appearance via Zoom.
Throughout the play Joy takes audience members on a rumpus ride as many may share her character’s cynical view on the hyper-consumerism of the season. Joy isn’t keen on the appetizers, and fixings Marlie offers up, so she requests to have toast instead, which Mitch quickly volunteers to prepare for her in a strange kitchen. As ludicrous as this seems, Gini later shares that she welcomes the new whimsical tradition of toast during a season that tends to be very much the same old, same old each year.
There will be no more spoilers from me, just the gentle nudge that this Mercury Players merry production is one not to be missed. Give the gift of laughter to you and your loved ones, as you get to be a guest to someone else’s awkward and comical Christmas dinner. Comfort and Joy delivers all the festive feels with 7:30 p.m. shows on Dec. 14 and 15, and 2:30 p.m. matinees on both Dec. 16, and 17. Regular admission tickets are $25 while tickets for students and seniors are $20. They can be purchased online at EventBrite.ca, or in person at Ten Old Books.
