Euchre Night At The Foster Festival
Playwright Norm Foster’s gift for creating fully rounded and psychologically acute female characters is on ample display in his Euchre Night now enjoying its world premiere at the Foster Festival, at the Mandeville Theatre in St Catherines.
By the way, if you (like me) have no idea what euchre (pronounced YOO-ker) is, don’t worry. All you need to know is that it’s a card game that enjoys fairly widespread popularity in Ontario and, so I am informed, Atlantic Canada. The first card is only dealt as the final curtain falls.
In Euchre Night four fifty-something long-time friends gather for their regularly scheduled evening of cards and chatter. They are devoted to one another, which of course doesn’t stop them gossiping behind each other’s back.
As hostess Ruby (Patricia Yeatman) welcomes Deb (Nora McLellan) and Cheryl (Kirsten Alter), the big topic is what’s up with latecomer Grace (Jenny L. Wright).
Quite a bit as it turns out. She’s in a hot and heavy relationship with Pastor Bob, who happens to be 82 years young. The age gap, not to mention his large pulpit, becomes fodder for much Fosterian humour.
Of course the others who have gathered for euchre night have their own backstories. Cheryl has lost her job. Ruby’s marriage has its rocky moments, as does Deb’s hair.
Over the course of two euchre nights and two acts, we get to see how these dynamics play out and how friendships manage to endure, come what may.
There’s not much of what you might call a plot in Euchre Night. A brief second act doesn’t manage to carry through on the promise of the first. The play is not, alas, among Foster’s best.
That’s not to say that Euchre Night is devoid of compensating qualities. There are, of course, the fully earned and easy laugh lines we come to expect from Foster.
Best of all, Euchre Night offers the opportunity to be a fly on the wall as four very distinct human beings reveal themselves in all their complexity. I tended to forget that I was watching a play and not a cinéma vérité documentary about what the womenfolk get up to when men are not around.
It helps that director Emily Oriold has assembled a cast of veteran actresses who can deliver the kind of naturalistic performances needed to bring Foster’s creations to vivid life. She has also, clearly, worked with them to bring out their best.
Best of all are Yeatman as the often frazzled hostess and McLellan as the insecure Deb. Theirs are utterly realistic, note-perfect performances from which the jokes emerge naturally. There’s none of that actorly folderol of setting up the punchline and then slamming it home.
Any aspiring actress who wants to know what real naturalistic acting looks like would be well advised to see Euchre Night just to study these two pros.
Designer Becky Morris has contributed a handsome set dominated by huge blow ups of playing cards and Alex Amini does her usual spot on job of costuming. I especially liked the way Grace’s new found sexual confidence announced itself in her outfits.
In a programme note, Foster mentions that he loves writing women characters. I sure loved spending time with these gals.
Euchre Night continues at the Foster Festival through August 23, 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Foster Festival website.
[image: Foster Festival]
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