Story by Pat Forrest, photos by Barry Wojciechowski
One of the most popular romantic comedies of the past century, Same Time, Next Year ran four years on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for lead actress Ellen Burstyn. To this day, it remains one of the world’s most widely-produced plays.
The plot follows a love affair between two people, Doris and George, married to others, who meet in the 50s while away from home, and continue to rendezvous once a year until the mid-70s. Through their relationship that develops over the years, we see how the world changes, and how those changes affect their lives. The war in Vietnam, for example, impacts George while women’s liberation clearly has resonated with Doris. Their feelings towards one another continue to evolve as do their attitudes about their spouses and the world around them.
Doris and George are played by real-life husband and wife team Liz Gilroy and Scott Maudsley. Watching them, you somehow forget that what they are committing adultery against two apparently good people named Harry and Helen. It’s a testament to their acting skills that you find yourself rooting for all four of them.
Same Time, Next Year runs at Magnus Theatre until May 3. Show times are Mondays – Saturdays at 8 pm, Wednesdays at noon and Saturdays at 2 pm. Buy tickets online at www.magnus.on.ca or at the box office.
Liz Gilroy (Doris) and Scott Maudsley (George)
