CSL council members to demonstrate flair for
comedy
Joel Goldenberg, The Suburban
May 16, 2012
The Suburban Côte St. Luc mayor Anthony Housefather
and council members always try to inject a little light humour at monthly
council meetings, with little quips and contemporary cultural references to
avoid an overly formal atmosphere. But this time the comedic talents of
Housefather, Côte St. Luc Councillors Mitchell Brownstein and Sam Goldbloom, as
well as Dollard des Ormeaux Councillor Herbert Brownstein, will be seen in their
full glory, when the Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society presents Norm Foster's Office
Hours from Thursday, May 24 to Saturday, May 26, in the Harold Greenspon
Auditorium at 5801 Cavendish Blvd., the basement of Côte St. Luc city hall.
(Herbert Brownstein is Mitchell Brownstein's brother.) “Côte Saint-Luc is
committed to community theatre,” Housefather said. “I hope that my participation
helps draw attention to this great community initiative." "Participating with my
fellow politicians and so many talented community actors has been a real treat,”
says Brownstein. “This play is hysterical and playing my role as a stereotype
'off the wall' salesman is a blast." Norm Foster is described by the Halifax
Daily News as “Canada's mostproduced dramatist.” Office Hours is described as a
“fastpaced” comedy which takes place on one Friday afternoon in six different
offices in a large city. The six separate stories that take place in each office
eventually interconnect. According to a Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society
announcement, the stories involve a newsman “who will do anything to keep his
job, a Canadian producer willing to overlook the shortcomings of a down and out
director, an entertainment agent caught in a scandal, a lawyer with big news to
share, a delusional jockey, a love-starved therapist and a man on a ledge.” The
society promises the play will “send the city into hysterics.” Anisa Cameron,
who directed the previous Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society production of the
musical Grease, is doing the same for Office Hours. Ariel Sterlin, who played
Frenchy in Grease, is the production stage manager; and Scott Drysdale return as
the lighting and technical director for the production. The shows are at 8 p.m.
There will also be two 2 p.m. matinees, one on Friday, May 25, and one on
Saturday, May 26.
Tickets are $15 plus tax and are available at the Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library (5851 Cavendish Blvd.), the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre (5794 Parkhaven Ave.), or by telephone at 514-485-6806 ext. 2200. Credit card or Interac will be accepted.
Local politicians play leading roles in upcoming
production
Isaac Olson
NDG Press, May 8
While some might say politics is full of drama, the
Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society’s upcoming play will be full of politicians.
“Politicians are natural actors as they are comfortable in front of people and
it definitely shows in their performances,” said director Anisa Cameron, citing
the participation of CSL councillors Mitchell Brownstein and Sam Goldbloom as
well as Mayor Anthony Housefather and a councillor from Dollard des Ormeaux,
Herbert Brownstein (Mitchell Brownstein’s brother). “They have a particular
stage presence because of their experience and they have also been my most
devoted cast members.” The fast-paced comedy by Norm Foster, Office Hours, is
set in six different offices with a cast of 15 actors and, while the scenes are
separate, it all comes together in the end as the connections are revealed. For
this play, Cameron said she had a flood of actors wanting roles but she had to
select carefully to ensure characters are appropriately cast for age, gender and
so forth. The councillors and mayor, she said, fit the part and they have
continued to demonstrate a dedicated interest in putting the Dramatic Society on
the map. “They see the community is really excited about having a community
theatre,” said Cameron. “The city really wants to support this initiative and
there is no better way than to get directly involved.” Housefather’s performance
in the Dramatic Society’s first production was his first real acting experience,
he said, and he is “thrilled” to be in another play. “I believe my
participation,” he said, “signals the incredible interest that our council has
to make CSL a city of theatre — our desire to make this a city that offers both
sports and cultural programs that, in a few years, will be second to none.”
Councillor Mitchell Brownstein commended the mayor’s participation, describing
him as a skilled actor that “is very involved on the ground level ... I think
it’s going to be a hysterical play and I think we now have a reputation for
putting out great performances.” Goldbloom, who has professional acting
experience in both plays and movies, said he enjoys being on stage and he
believes in the dramatic society’s importance as it draws in people of all ages.
“We want to continue to make the city as attractive as possible for young
families move in as well as offering people of all ages an opportunity to
express themselves theatrically,” said Goldbloom. Opening night is May 24 and
the play will be performed in city hall’s Harold Greenspon Auditorium. There
will be a 2 pm matinee on May 25 as well as 8 pm showing and that schedule
repeats itself on the 26th. If the play sells out as quickly as the last
production, Grease, there is the possibility of having a final showing on
Sunday, May 27. For more information, contact city hall or email:
csldramaticsociety@ gmail.com.
