What a gem! The Festival Antigonish production of Same Time, Next Year is satisfying on so many levels. Bernard Slade’s 1975 comedy about two lovers who meet but once a year covers a tumultuous two-decade period in US history which is mirrored by the changing relationship of Doris (Joanne Miler) and George (John Fitzgerald Jay). Miller and Fitzgerald Jay are a treat to watch as they spark and spar and challenge each other to grow. They manage to make it utterly believable that love could blossom in such unlikely circumstances. The roomy set by Ian Pygott is perfect for Festival Antigonish’s lily pad stage, and the costumes by Adam MacKinnon capture both the period in time and manifest outwardly the inward changes of Doris and George. Really fun, and really well done
To Aug 25, Bauer Theatre, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, $19-$32, 800-563-PLAY
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2012.