Entertainement: Pintello Comedy’s new show “Halfway There” opens Nov. 4
Norm Foster is the “Neil Simon of Canada”
Left to right: Angela Doss Santiago, Vanessa Alvarez, Dena Gregory perform in Norm Foster’s “Halfway There.” Photo courtesy Pintello Comedy Theater
By Marty Cheek
Pintello Comedy Theater’s latest show is a romantic comedy that comes from America’s neighbor to the north. Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s “Halfway There” opens Nov. 4 for a four-week run.
The story takes place in a diner in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, a small town halfway between the equator and the North Pole, giving the play its title. Four women are long-time pals who enjoy gossiping over coffee. But things change in unexpected ways when a handsome doctor arrives in the small town.
The performers are Jonathan Bass (the doctor) and Roberta Vinkhuysen, Angela Doss Santiago, Dena Gregory, and Vanessa Alvarez (the friends). Rod Pintello directs the show and Marion Pintello is the producer.
The Pintellos decided to perform the play because it is both hilarious and heart-touching. Foster is known as “the Neil Simon of Canada.”
“We’re especially happy to finally be in rehearsal for ‘Halfway There,’” Marion said.
Rod and Marion have corresponded with Foster for nearly 20 years when they started Pintello Comedy Theater. Early on, they arranged to see him starring in one of his plays in Ontario, and they were fast fans. Now they keep in touch, and have visited and seen him at his new playhouse in St. Catharines for the very successful Foster Festival celebrating his works, bringing “Humor with Heart to the Heart of Niagara.”
The London Free Press reviewer Joe Belanger described the show as “Loaded with Foster’s typically witty dialogue.”
Show dates are 8 p.m. Nov. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 18, 25, and 26, and 2 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20. The theater is located at 8191 Swanston Lane. Details: Visit www.pintellocomedy.com.
