(Credit: Helen Juvonen. Pictured: on bike Suchiththa Wickremesooriya. Behind L-R: Jack Copland and Azeem Nathoo.)

“Smart direction by Sue Miner and Mark Brownell’s witty and sometimes whimsical script make for a dandy outdoor summer production. THREE MEN ON A BIKE is worth paying a visit. Funny, sharp and satirical.”

I’m a little late to the theatre on this one…like a year.

But that’s okay.

What’s that adage:

“Good things come to those who wait.”

I’m glad I did just that.

Last summer, my OUR THEATRE VOICE colleague Dave Rabjohn reviewed the Guild Festival Theatre’s production of THREE MEN IN A BOAT, playwright Mark Brownell’s re-creation of the original 1889 farce by Jerome K. Jerome. Rabjohn called last summer’s production ‘unapologetic full-bore schadenfreude (an emotional experience of pleasure in response to another’s misfortune). He travelled down the Thames River and encountered various hijinks with Harris, George and Jay figuratively.

This summer, it’s my turn to travel with these very same three lads: Harris (Jack Copland), George (Suchiththa Wickremesooriya), and Jay (Azeem Nathoo).

And where did we go?

Germany. Only this time, it wasn’t by boat.

It’s navigating the open by biking. It’s THREE MEN ON A BIKE.

It took a bit of time to get to the country, though. You wanna know why? The reason is another adage I’ve heard:

‘Half the fun is getting there’ in Mark Brownell’s witty and whimsical script.

These three adorable buffoons and mismatched friends think they know more than they do about making plans for a holiday to Germany. That’s all part of this specific trip’s amusement and fun.

We can all use a little of that humour right now.

Was it necessary to have seen THREE MEN IN A BOAT last year to enjoy THREE MEN ON A BIKE?

Not at all. If you did, you might be up a bit more on some of the characters’ eccentricities that provide much of the humour; however, I got most of the nods, the nudges, and the wink, winks that punched up the action and some of the commentaries.

This time, Azeem Nathoo’s Jay steps forward at the top of the show. He tells the audience that things have changed and that this trip might not be as memorable as the other one. I find it interesting that a writer would say that.

Later in the show, one of the characters keeps a secret, but somehow, another has discovered it. The ensuing bickering and arguing are never mean or malicious. When the secret is revealed, it’s silly why the other two would feel the way they do. Perhaps the other two might feel validated and jealous, but it’s guys teasing other guys. The relationship between guys is utterly different from the relationship women have with each other.

Director Sue Miner smartly never lets the comic action veer off the rails. Doing so would turn the production silly, infantile, and puerile.

She knows there’s more to this production for audiences to appreciate.

For one, Copland, Nathoo, and Wickremesooriya adroitly handle the show’s physical demands. This is a testament to their staying power at peak performance level. The three of them also appear to be in remarkably good physical shape. That’s very important. The show's running time is approximately 80 minutes with no break, but my God.

I marvelled at the speed with which the three of them motor across the vast length of the amphitheatre stage, with a heaping spoonful of generous dexterity in movement and nary a sound of being out of breath. The three will then run off the stage to the bushes stage right. One of them scales the back wall to speak to us momentarily.

There’s no mention of who designed the costumes in the programme, but they are pretty colourful and have a look reminiscent of the Victorian era. Costumes are essential to appreciate in this production. Dave Rabjohn last year called the costumes: “gaudy primary colours of a Mary Poppins adventure through a chalk picture.”

This description still holds true.

Miner also allows the audience to use their imagination, which will always be a bonus to me. This occurs most notably when the guys are riding their bikes. The way Copland, Nathoo and Wickremesooriya beam with pride made me laugh. Copland especially has this cock of the walk grin as he looks at the audience that still makes me laugh as I write this article.

I’m sure rehearsals must have been riotous as they practiced, ensuring they were in complete synchronicity, especially while riding the tandem and single bikes.

Additionally, it takes a solid actor to mime and use specific movements to denote certain props rather than having them at hand. Concentrated work in miming ensures the audience and the actor believe the item is in front without seeing it. Copland, Nathoo and Wickremesooriya’s work has paid off. I bought those imaginary articles in the guys’ hands throughout the show.

Recently, in an ‘Intermission’ article, Miner said that personally she’s got nothing to do with these guys, but she loves them. She also loves their journey: “They just touch people to come along for the ride. That’s part of the draw for me—they [screw up] for us so we don’t have to. We can just sit and enjoy and laugh at their foibles. Anything that brings us all back to humanity is my hero right now.”

Jack Copland, Suchiththa Wickremesooriya, and Azeem Nathoo have that natural chemistry that makes them loveable. As the plot progressed, I sat back, enjoyed, and laughed at their foibles in speaking with many German people on their trip.

The one quibble I did have was the men’s enunciation. I sat in the front row. For most of the show, I could hear the dialogue. However, and I’m sure it was probably opening night jitters, the enunciation wasn’t as clear as it could have been near the end, and I had difficulty hearing some of the dialogue. As the performances continue and the actors grow even more confident, their enunciation will significantly improve.

And Another Thought: To return to the question asked in the introduction. Did I experience an unapologetic full-bore schadenfreude as Rabjohn?

I most certainly did, especially when the three tried speaking German to native speakers—their German sounds like when I go to Montreal or Quebec City to speak French in either city.

See THREE MEN ON A BIKE. We most definitely need this story in our world right now.

Running time: approximately 80 minutes with no interval.

The production runs until August 4 at the Greek Theatre in Guild Park and Gardens, 201 Guildwood Parkway, Scarborough. For tickets: guildfestivaltheatre.ca or call 647-576-7822.

GUILD FESTIVAL THEATRE presents
THREE MEN ON A BIKE by Mark Brownell. Based on the stories of Jerome K. Jerome
Directed by Sue Miner
Production Designer: Ina Kerklaan
Assistant Director: Alecia Pagnotta
Music Director/Arranger: J. Rigzin Tute
Lighting Designer: Adam Walters
Stage Manager: Jenna Borsato

Performers: Jack Copland, Azeem Nathoo, Suchiththa Wickremesooriya.