Mom’s Gift: Poignant Comedy takes CentreStage

Mom’s Gift: Poignant Comedy takes CentreStage
By Mike Butler

Spring has arrived (according to the calendar anyway)! Despite the fluctuating weather (I had shorts on a week ago and today I am shovelling off the walkway at T.A.N), there is always a cozy seat at CentreStage Theatre for a wonderful show. A new production has arrived at the theatre and it’s the perfect outing for friends and family to take in.

Mom’s Gift is a poignant comedy written by Phil Olsen and tells the story of a family dealing with the many issues that make up our daily lives. Mom has been dead for 11 months and suddenly shows up at her husband’s birthday party as a ghost with a mission. Like Clarence in It’s A Wonderful Life, she has to accomplish a task to earn her wings. Only what the task actually is remains a mystery. There are so many things to fix with her family that Mom doesn’t know where to start. The problem is complicated by the fact that the only person who can hear or see Mom is her daughter, who has been ordered by the court to spend Dad’s birthday with him as part of her “anger management program.” One by one the family secrets are peeled away revealing a shocking truth that surprises even our ghost.

Mom’s Gift is directed by Susan Monro, recently seen in the production Murdered to Death, and stage management is provided by Chérie Zinck, who is no stranger to CentreStage audiences. Lights and sound are presented by Kathy Walker, and the very talented ensemble of Mom’s Gift includes seasoned cast members, and talented performers who are brand new to the stage: Candy O’ Brien, Chérie Zinck, Danielle Lutz, Wendy Stewart, Darrell Doucette, Angela Jenereaux, and Ryan MacNab. The featured artist during the run of Mom’s Gift is Brenda Imlay, whose work is featured on the lobby walls.

You can catch Mom’s Gift on these performance dates: May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, and 18, with a matinee performance on May 12. Front of House opens at 6:45pm for the evening performances and 1:15pm for the matinee. Tickets are: adults $15; seniors/students $12; children, age 12 and under, $5. CentreStage takes cash or cheques only. Reservations are strongly recommended and are held until 15 minutes before show time. Call 902-678-8040 for reservations and visit centrestagetheatre.ca to find out about upcoming productions, auditions, and special events.