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April 18, 2003
Pumping out some good times
Gateway Theatre play has a weak storyline but plenty of up-tempo
tunes.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
It's not very common that a play with a weak storyline would get
a really good review. With that said, you could consider Pump
Boys and Dinettes, playing at Richmond's Gateway Theatre until
April 26, an uncommonly entertaining show.
Based on a day (actually two) in the life of three gas station workers
and two diner waitresses who work at a rest stop on an otherwise
quiet Highway 57, the show offers absolutely no attempt at any sort
of progressive storyline. Only a handful of fables and short tales
that are predominately told with a song – a bluegrass or country-rock
tune in most cases.
But what makes Pump Boys and Dinettes worth the price of
a ticket is the fact that the five performers were the actors, singers
and the band itself. For most of the show, the characters carried
electric and acoustic guitars, an accordion, an upright bass and
often made drum sets out of garbage cans or hanging pots that were
part of the colorful set.
They also interacted with the audience at various times, including
a mid-show raffle in which the winner was offered a choice between
several car air fresheners or a coffee mug. The winner also posed
for a picture on the set with the entire cast – all part of
the show.
For the theatre enthusiast who has trouble sitting through a three-hour
show, Pump Boys has another alluring feature. Each half of
the show featured several fast-paced scenes, and the entire show
ran for a total of only one hour and 40 minutes, including a 15-minute
break.
Written by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John
Schimmel and Jim Wann, the local production of the Tony-nominated
show was directed by Howard Siegel. Another member of the Jewish
community of Greater Vancouver, Itai Erdal, was the show's lighting
designer.
Pump Boys originated off Broadway in the early 1980s before
spending a few years on Broadway. Several independent productions
followed the New York run with tours across North America.
Tickets for Pump Boys can be purchased by calling the Gateway
Theatre box office at 604-270-1812.
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