Go ahead, take a chance
The Telegram Newspaper (2002)
By: Mark Vaughan-Jackson
 Melanie Shave is Laura Adams and Paul David Power is Josh Costello in this scene from Power's play, Last Chance
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Ever looked back on your life and wished you had done something, said something important when you had the chance?
Ever wondered if it really would have made a difference, would it have been a change for the better? Questions like these are at the heart of Last Chance, a new play by Newfoundlander Paul David Power, being staged until Saturday night at the LSPU Hall in St. John's. For Power, the production is a return to MUN Drama, which staged his first play, Roomies, in 1995. And like Roomies, Last Chance is a play about relationships. "We have times in our lives when we wish we had taken a chance and said something to somone that would make a difference, and we never take that chance," he said. "This play looks at, "if you do that that chance, if it's your last chace, how do things work out?" "A lot of the time we think if we had said something, things would have worked out like a fairy tale - and that's not always the case." In the play, diner owner Joe Costello is trying to control his son, Josh's life. |
When he hears Laura Adams, Josh's ex-girlfriend, is about to marry Dr. Gregory Mitchell, Joe takes it upon himself to arrange a meeting between Josh and Laura, who he's convinced still love each other and who can mend their relationship and live happlily ever after if just given a last chance.
Adding to the emotionally charged situation is Rhonda, Joe's employee, who is fond of Josh, hates Laura, and is always willing to speak her mind.
Then there's the urbane Dr. Mitchell, a somehwat controlling person, who has to deal with the influences of the Costellos on his finace.
Finally there's Kyle, a mysterious man who becomes the unpredictable rogue element as the characters find themselves trapped in the diner during a storm.
Blending humour and drama, Power's play explores how people relate to each other, and to themselves, when they are given the chance to be totally open and upfront with their feelings.
"There's a lot of relationships in the play and each one that goes on has that underlying theme of taking the chance to speak up, whether it be about love or family relationships," he said.
"There's a lot of scenes in there about speaking up about how you're feeling, not just towards other people, but within yourself. A lot of times we go through life silent, but things don't always have to be the way they are if we just speak up."
And as a cautionary note, Power said some of the characters shown speaking about one's feelings may not end up the way they had hoped.
"It's taking a chance," he said. "It's not leaving everyything wondering how things might have been, but discovering how they really are - whether that be good or bad."
Directed by Steve O'Connell, Last Chance features performances by David Walsh as Joe Costello, Power as Josh Costello, Melanie Shave as Laura Adams, Jessica Natiuk as Rhonda, Frank Squires as Dr. Mitchell and Brian Power as Kyle.
Adding to the emotionally charged situation is Rhonda, Joe's employee, who is fond of Josh, hates Laura, and is always willing to speak her mind.
Then there's the urbane Dr. Mitchell, a somehwat controlling person, who has to deal with the influences of the Costellos on his finace.
Finally there's Kyle, a mysterious man who becomes the unpredictable rogue element as the characters find themselves trapped in the diner during a storm.
Blending humour and drama, Power's play explores how people relate to each other, and to themselves, when they are given the chance to be totally open and upfront with their feelings.
"There's a lot of relationships in the play and each one that goes on has that underlying theme of taking the chance to speak up, whether it be about love or family relationships," he said.
"There's a lot of scenes in there about speaking up about how you're feeling, not just towards other people, but within yourself. A lot of times we go through life silent, but things don't always have to be the way they are if we just speak up."
And as a cautionary note, Power said some of the characters shown speaking about one's feelings may not end up the way they had hoped.
"It's taking a chance," he said. "It's not leaving everyything wondering how things might have been, but discovering how they really are - whether that be good or bad."
Directed by Steve O'Connell, Last Chance features performances by David Walsh as Joe Costello, Power as Josh Costello, Melanie Shave as Laura Adams, Jessica Natiuk as Rhonda, Frank Squires as Dr. Mitchell and Brian Power as Kyle.