Blackhorse Players lend support to The Boys Next Door
By Anne Ritchie

In the popular sitcom MASH, Frank Burns tells Hawkeye, "Normal is everybody doing the same thing," to which Hawkeye replies, "Well, what about individuality?"

"Well, individuality is fine," Frank says, "as long as we do it together."

Struggling to cope in the "normal" world, the special needs characters of Tom Griffin's The Boys Next Door use strengths and talents common to all people to "do it together". Indeed, the cast in the current offering of the Blackhorse Village Players (BVP) challenges the audience with such sensitivity and humor that you leave this show questioning the "normal" individuals in this play, and learning more than you bargained for from the boys next door.

Anchored by Jack, a burnt-out social worker, Norman, Arnold, Lucien, and Barry survive and sometimes thrive in their group home. Despite all the obstacles, be they bullying, communication shutdowns, romantic entanglements or their own developmental challenges, they discover their role in the world.

David Potocki gives a burst of talent to the role of Jack, the social worker who interprets society for the boys. He only understands it a little better himself, and skillfully links us into his dilemma.

Residents Lucien, Arnold, Norm and Barry brave society with admirable and enduring strength. Above all else, the BVP cast's ability, sensitivity and willingness to express and communicate this predicament deserves a heartfelt round of applause. Thank you to all of you for a wonderful play.

The multi-talented director Harry Lavigne becomes Lucien, the sweetest square peg in a round hole you could hope to meet. Lucien struggles mightily to keep up with the world and we're reminded of the last man in the crack-thewhip game who runs twice as hard to keep up. If this energy belongs to a low functioning character, we should all have some.

As Arnold, Greg Meyer displays an amazing talent for anxiety, we could all benefit from some of his stamina. Unfortunately, in his case, that stamina applies to being the bully's shoeshine boy or buying a multitude of breakfast cereals due to a misunderstanding.

Norm (Daniel Merizzi) has the perseverance of a doughboy, an individual who knows and enjoys himself. He is a romantic with a dream, and Merizzi has the talents to communicate it all.

Norm's dream includes Sheila (Tiffany Grimes). In a particularly touching scene, he wishes her to see his "pad", and the obstacles he faces are capably narrated by Potocki. Grimes shows a rare talent in maintaining a challenging role that includes enthusiasm, verve, and speech impediment.

Her cohort, Clara (Lisa Lagrande), has even more surmountable obstacles, and Lagrande expressively lends voice to them in her Blackhorse debut..

Annette Derraugh adds a sensitive voice of reason for the boys as a sympathetic neighbor and friend, and Paul Drier steps in for a significantly small role as the resounding voice of authority. One is left wondering "what do they really know?"

One whom we are sure knows nothing is Mr. Klemper, (Richard Hatch), the father of Barry (Kyle Drier). Mr. Klemper and Barry are riveting cause and effect roles. They act in synergy, rising with emotional needs, flaring in a peak of passion, lives dimming and diminishing in anguish. These are two memorable performances: left to themselves, they would be good acting, together they are food for thought.

Working backstage, Lavigne and producer Cheryl Phillips have put together a memorable play, supported by set construction, décor and design of Cheryl and Gord Phillips and Wayne Leblanc, assisted by stage and assistant stage managers Denise Zahordny and Kierston Drier. These characters set the scene for a play that will challenge the audience to think how all individuals can "do it together" in the universal need of setting this world to rights.

The Boys Next Door plays until Feb. 3. Call (905) 880- 5002 for ticket information.