Heartfelt And Healing MENDING FENCES By Norm Foster Opens Today At Little Fish Theatre

A father and son reunion is at the center of Mending Fences, a human drama that is relevant to anyone who has ever been a son, daughter, or parent -- which includes us all. Written by Norm Foster, one of North America's most produced playwrights, and directed by longtime Little Fish Theatre Company Member Madeleine Drake, the fourth show of LFT's 2018 season with leave audiences with a uniquely cathartic theatrical experience.

It's been thirteen years since Drew has seen or talked to his father, Harry. But marital upset in Drew's life drives him to make the 32 hour trek to visit and seek answers from the man who shaped his life. He meets Harry's girlfriend Gin, who tries to help them mend their strained relationship. Set in a farmhouse in rural Saskatchewan, flashback scenes delve into the past events that shaped their tenuous bond. As the play unfolds, Drew and Harry tentatively discover that they have more in common than even they realized.

Mending Fences is the sixth show Little Fish Theatre has mounted by playwright Foster, often referred to as "Canada's Neil Simon." In 2016, Foster was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honor in the nation. LFT audiences have referred to him as one of their favorite playwrights and look forward to his plays, which are always filled with pathos, humor, and heartfelt sentiment.

LFT Company Member Ryan Knight plays embattled son Drew. Knight was last seen in this year's LFT short play festival Pick of the Vine and is a regular presence on stage with Shakespeare by the Sea. Gin is played by Shirley Hatton*, a StageSceneLA award winner as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and recently seen on the LFT stage in Quartet. Mike Ghekiere completes the cast, playing Harry. Ghekiere is known to South Bay audiences for multiple roles in musicals at the James Armstrong Theatre and the Warner Grand Theatre, neighbor to LFT in San Pedro.

"I am a fan of playwright Norm Foster for many reasons, but as an actor and director, I truly appreciate the well written dialogue and the way his characters are real people," says director Drake. "This piece has eight characters played by three actors in a very unique manner. It is moving, funny, and as with all his plays has a wonderful and hopeful ending."

Mending Fences will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm April 27 through May 27 with two Sunday 2:00pm matinees on May 20 and May 27. The May 20 matinee features a special Talkback session where the actors and creative team will be available for 10 to 15 minutes for a post-show discussion with the audience.

Founded in 2002 as an artists' ensemble, Little Fish Theatre presents classic and contemporary plays in an intimate setting on Centre Street in downtown San Pedro.

*This production is presented under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Los Angeles Membership Company Rule.

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