The play “Born Yesterday” is hitting the stage this week at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound.
Director Kevin Haxell says April 21 is opening night for this comedic play.
Haxell describes the play, written in 1946, as focusing on a narcissistic thug who arrives in Washington to bribe a senator into allowing him to pursue a money making scheme.
“The comedic part of it, is really what he has to do in order to succeed in Washington. He actually has an ex-chorus line girlfriend that he brought with him, who as he puts it, is a little on the stupid side. So what he decides he has to do is get her educated. So he hires a journalist to in fact, educate her and of course they fall in love, which leads to huge complications because she starts to realize that she has been the front for all of his illegal dealings in the past,” says Haxell.
Haxell says while the play is very comedic, it also has its serious side in asking questions about political corruption, putting up with thugs in politics, and abuse.
The character Billy, the girlfriend of the thug eventually starts to realize the wrongful behaviour exhibited by her significant other.
Haxell says the play has seen a lot of success and was eventually turned into a movie.
“It has been remounted several times and is still relevant today, obviously when you are looking at political corruption, free enterprise, and the rights of the greedy to make money through free enterprise. These questions are examined in the play and at the same time we have a lot of fun with Billy’s character,” says Haxell.
The play is running from April 21 to the 23 and from April 27 to the 30.
Tickets are available for purchase on the Roxy Theatre website and the box office.
