Regina Performing Arts Centre – April 3 – 6, 2024

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ / 5

Ticket Price: $31.50 (https://rpac.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/15301)

Norm Foster‘s play The Ladies Foursome is a delightful and entertaining story of four women out on a round of golf the day after the funeral for their friend Catherine. Three of the women, Connie (played by Kelle Crosbie), Tate (played by Norma Trower), and Margot (played by Brenda Cheater) have been long term golf friends with Catherine as their fourth. Dory (played by Sabrina Cataldo) was a friend of Catherine’s but is a newcomer to the group. Over 18 holes of golf, as the women discuss their lives, children, sex, food, and a myriad of other topics, they learn that they don’t know each other – or their friend – nearly as well as they thought. And perhaps the grass is not always greener.

Stacey Paus has directed a beautifully minimalist production of this play that allows it to rest on the strength of the characters and the actors that portray them. Sets and props are minimal. A 6-inch high green carpeted riser downstage represents the tee box on each hole where the ladies show off their excellent golf form. The remaining set is made up of 3 flats beautifully painted by Ayrianna Hrenyk that are moved around to give the sense of the different holes and a signpost where the hole number is swapped each scene. Props are limited to each lady’s golf bag which is very nicely matched to the golfer (except for Dory’s – her clubs are rented). Sound design, consisting of 80s and 90s rock, and golf thwacks, is by Devin Melnyk and lighting design is by Devin Barss. Capably stage managing the show is Christine Byerley.

The performances by the four actresses are all excellent. RLT newcomer Norma Trower‘s Tate is charming in her seeming naivete. Brenda Cheater as Margot brilliantly plays her character’s strong but easy going nature. Kelle Crosbie as the free wheeling journalist Connie is brilliant, landing some of the shows best comedic moments but also emoting beautifully over her lost friend. And Dory, played by Sabrina Cataldo (who has not appeared for many years on the RLT stage but has been active with several musical theatre companies) is a wonderful foil for the other three women. She also gives an excellent exploration of Dory’s emotions and motivations as that character works through her own grief and frustrations.

The Ladies Foursome at RLT is a wonderful evening of theatre and well worth seeing. 4.5/5 stars.