By Pepper Parr
November 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
With just two people on the stage and other than a table and a couple of chairs for props – it was a pretty sparse set – until Christina Serra as Lina and her husband Dan Watson as Ralph took their places.
Ralph and Lina were acrobatic, spoke rapidly and let you in on the love story they lived.
We were looking in on a love story about to take root between a quiet, almost mousy Italian girl, Lina, looking for a job sewing handkerchiefs; she gets the job from a slave driver of an employer. The son of the woman who owns the sewing company, Ralph, strolls into the workroom – and the love story begins.
Ralph who is about to become the “boyfriend” is a little dense; Lina, the girl is small, noisy in a nice way and has great movement as she scoots about the stage.
These two use body language for sound effects. The love story they tell is said to be true – and it is a delight to watch.
The scene where the bride “has” to get pregnant on her wedding day by a man she is not going to marry has to be seen to be understood and appreciated.
Ralph expressing his feelings for Lina – the true love story of Lina’s parents.
The “get me pregnant” scene is close to hilarious.
The scene that you will remember for a long time is that done by Watson as he plays the role of Ralph who has returned from the war seven years later to find there is a new suitor and a wedding about to take place.
Watson plays the role of the soldier who returns from the war and that of the new suitor who expects to marry Lina – at the same time.
The instant switch from one character to the other was very impressive – you almost want to roll it back and watch it again. With the deft movement of his body and using what looks like a dish towel as a prop Watson is superb.
Watching Lina wolf down the lunch sandwich Ralph offers to share early in the romance is a hoot – this diminutive little thing has the appetite of a horse. One wondered what her other appetites were like.
The only discordant note was all the babies in the closing scene that children and perhaps grandchildren seem to have brought to the front door of the house in Peterborough. Every time the door bell rang there was Lina with more babies in her arms.
Ralph and Lina – Worth seeing – takes place in the Community Theatre at The Centre (Burlington Performing Arts Centre) and runs through to the 29th with performances on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th – the Saturday schedule includes a 2:00 pm matinee; Sunday is a matinee only.
We were at the performance last night, too. It’s sweet, sad and hilarious. The performers are energetic and didn’t miss a beat! Well worth seeing.