Thursday, November 17, 2005

By Charles Jarrett

With "Here on the Flight Path," Playhouse West Director Lois Grandi has brought back the hilarious humor of Canada's most sought after playwright, Norm Foster, in another story about the elusive art of dating and communicating. David Hern returns to Playhouse West as divorced newspaper columnist, John Cummings, a sweet, gentle but horny guy, just beginning to venture back into the love and lust arena after losing his wife of many years to a "poet."

John lives on the top floor of the Aurora Terrace Apartments somewhere in Canada, one mile from town, and directly under an airport's busy flight path. The apartment next to him, with adjoining balconies, has just been rented to a very attractive woman, Fay (Teresa Wilkes Levine), who describes her occupation as a "personal-improvement" counselor (AKA as a hooker). Fay is obviously a higher-than-your-normal-cost hooker, fairly sophisticated, street-smart and exceedingly clever. She never brings her "dates" home with her and it takes a little while before John discovers the true meaning of the double-talk about her ability to "raise" men's spirits and awareness and energy.

Playwright Foster cleverly weaves double meanings into his brilliant conversations. Fay is forced to move when the landlord discovers her true profession. John's salivary glands once again perk up as a very young, very attractive, and very ambitious singer, dancer, actress, entertainer-wanna-be from the farmlands of Alberta, Canada, moves into his adjacent apartment shortly after Fay has gone away. Angel (Rebecca Schweitzer) is like a breath of fresh air, albeit a bit brash and outspoken, with a nearly shrill, high-decibel voice. She is without a doubt definitely high-octane with high hopes and a passion for her anticipated future work in musicals or movies, with a positive mental attitude on steroids. John realizes that she is too immature for him, but he continues to support her aspirations as month after month goes by with little or no jobs seeming to materialize for the youngster from Alberta. Again life goes on on the flight path as Angel returns whence she came. Next, heart-broken Gwen (Lisa-Marie Newton) moves in. She has left her husband and yearns for his call, for another chance to re-unite. This becomes the most involved of the three relationships; in fact, a true relationship develops between the two neighbors, a sweet and supportive relationship emerges and engages the audience. I won't give any hint where this relationship goes, but it is definitely worth the wait and brings the play to a clever and thought-provoking ending.

Foster is truly superb as a writer. He understands well the way we all work, he develops characters we cannot help but like, situations we can certainly relate to and understand. It all makes wonderful sense with a wonderful sense of humor as well. "Here on the Flight Path" runs through Dec. 3. Call 943- SHOW (7469). The production is in the Knight Stage 3 theatre, on the lower level of the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek.