REVIEW By Shane Kelley - July 2010

British playwright Peter Quilter’s Celebrity is a walk on the wild side through a script replete with sex tapes, celebrity father-son rivalry, obsession, deception, infidelity, and a handsome bare-behind all rolled up into a hit production at the Hudson Village Theatre.
Alan Coogan (Don Anderson) really misses the years when he was a hot celebrity game show host. Though he seems to live the good life and is married to Helen (Jennifer Morehouse), the 'perfect' wife who gave up a successful singing career for him and their child-star son Jamie (Shayne Devouges), Alan is no longer front page in the checkout-counter tabloids or stalked by paparazzi. Alan's life now revolves around managing Jamie's busy career, and cocktails at 5.
Trouble erupts after Alan, desperate to seize any chance to get back in the limelight, invites George (Andrew Johnston), a documentary filmmaker, to live with them while shooting footage for a reality TV show pilot about their lives. Alan has signed a contract with George that gives him total access to the family's personal life, but Helen and Jamie are not happy about it.
Andrew Johnston is exceptional as the obsessive and voyeuristic George, following Jamie around “like a dog in heat.” Don Anderson, one of my favorite Montreal actors, is terrific as the self-absorbed Alan Coogan. Shayne Devouges is great as his son Jamie, a young man ready to rebel against his controlling father. Director Mary Vuorela also did well casting the multi-talented Jennifer Morehouse as Helen, who sings and plays guitar in her role.
The household is joined by Jamie’s friend Dusty (Jay Thomas), a down-and-out former child star who brings his long-standing crush on the 40-something former singer to an already emotionally charged situation. Jay Thomas does an excellent job in his role as the charming, handsome Dusty, with just the right amount of swagger and a real-life Welsh accent.
Alan has tight control of Jamie's career and the proceeds from his film and commercial work, keeping him in the dark about negotiations and the state of his finances. Things come to a head when George tells Jamie about the Coogan Act, a law drawn up in the 1930s, after child star Jackie Coogan was left near penniless by his parents.
As we watch George stalking the household with his camera, even shooting them with his infrared lens while they are sleeping, we start to wonder who and what George is most interested in filming. Alan is getting more and more excited about the dream of a career revival and return to celebrity status through the reality show pilot that George is filming for the networks, especially when the Hollywood media descends on their front lawn.
Written in 2009, this is Celebrity’s North American premiere and I was fortunate to be able to catch a pre dress (and undress) rehearsal. Vuorela has great rapport with her cast and crew and believes in strong direction with positive reinforcement. (Her comeback to a suggestion for a movement change by Shayne Devouges had all of us laughing when she quipped "I guess this is the time I have to start beating up my actors."
Watching stage manager Evan Harkai remind the actors of lines they forgot during rehearsal, I was reminded how essential a good stage manager is to the successful production of a play. Even when they missed a cue, he didn't. See you there opening night
Opening Thursday, July 15, Celebrity runs until Aug. 1. To book seats, contact http://www.villagetheatre.ca/ or the box office at 450-458-5361