The Story

BusyBody

Written by Jack Popplewell and Directed by Rebecca Walters

October 27 – November 17 with Sunday Matinées November 4 & 11

Lily Piper is an office cleaner in 1960’s London who knows everybody’s business. One night while cleaning, she finds a dead body in one of the offices – the body of her boss and the owner of the company, Richard Marshall. She calls the police, but by the time young Detective Constable Goddard arrives, the body has disappeared.

Detective Superintendent Baxter arrives on the scene, yanked from his sick-bed by the reported murder. It turns out that he and Mrs. Piper know each other, having grown up in the same neighbourhood. She is delighted to see him, a feeling that is very much not mutual!

The body is gone, but a call to his home confirms that Marshall is missing, and a bloodstained chair provides proof that some sort of mischief has occurred.

The next morning, Mrs. Piper “helps” Baxter to interrogate the other employees as they arrive: Marian Selby, the plain, dedicated secretary who held a torch for Marshall, Robert Westerby, the charming young accountant, and Vickie Reynolds, the giddy young typist, as well as Claire, Marshall’s glamourous and unfaithful wife. It looks like almost everyone had a reason to want Marshall dead. Just as Baxter is about to reveal his theory of “whodunnit”, another surprise arrives on the scene: Richard Marshall himself, very much not dead.

The next day, Lily is still convinced that a murder took place, and she is determined to find out whose. While cleaning, she has found a pair of clues – a set of keys, and a distinctive button. She shows Marshall, and tells him that she has called Baxter to give him the evidence. Goddard arrives, and confirms that the set of keys is actually his. Only slightly deterred, Lily hides the button in her “secret” pocket, only to have it stolen when a mysterious figure turns out the lights.

When Baxter arrives, all the evidence is gone, but a call to the station confirms that a dead body, missing a button exactly like the one Lily found, has turned up in a back alley. It is the body of John Cameron, the lover of Claire Marshall. After protesting that he is innocent and being set up, Marshall escapes.

It looks as though all is lost, but Lilly has a theory as to who actually killed John Cameron, and a way to prove it. While Baxter hides in a cupboard, Lily will get the killer to confess. What could possibly go wrong?”

Meet the BUSYBODY Director

Rebecca Walters

Rebecca has a BFA from UBC and an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University. She appeared in last season’s “Calendar Girls”, as well as numerous Metro productions in the late 20^th and early 21^st Century. She loves to travel, and has worked on a kibbutz in Israel and an archaeological excavation in Coventry.

While living in DC, she worked the White House Halloween party two years in a row, and got to shake the Obamas’ hands AND pet their dog.

Rebecca has worked with theatre companies throughout the Lower Mainland and DC, and is excited to make her directing debut at Metro Theatre working with a fabulous cast, crew and production team of old friends and new.

As a director, her job is to actually BE all up in everybody’s business! The perfect role for a busybody!

Join Rebecca and the cast of BusyBody immediately following the show on Friday, November 2nd, 2018 for an informal chat about

• Office politics then and now: How a script from 1960’s London translates for a 21^st Century Canadian audience.
• “You have to pick it up to dial it…” Explaining old-time technology to younger cast members, or how the process is often as funny as the final product.
• Lily vs. Baxter: High status and low status in comedy.

After which, Rebecca will open the session up for questions from the audience.

There is no additional charge for the Director’s Talk, just stay in your seats or move up a bit closer to the stage.  The session will last approximately 20 minutes.

Fast Facts:

BUSYBODY

SHOW TIMES:

Performances are Thursday to Saturday at 8:00 pm, with Sunday Matinees at 2:00 pm.

SHOW RUN:

October 27th to November 17th,

Thursday through Saturday nights

with Matinees on November 4th & 11th.

The Director’s Talk is Friday, November 2nd

The Preview is on Friday, October 26th – it is the final dress rehearsal.

LOCATION:

1370 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC.  Next to the on-ramp to the Arthur Lang Bridge by Marine Drive and Granville .

TICKET PRICING:

Tickets are $25 for adults or $22 for seniors and students, with a special every Thursday 2 for $37. Preview performance $15.

BOX OFFICE WINDOWS HOURS:

Wed – Sat 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm & 1 Hour before each show.
Box Office Phone: 604 266 7191

LICENSED LOUNGE HOURS:

Show Performance Evenings – 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Show Performance Matinees – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

PARKING:

There is plenty of easy parking – in the parking lot, on the street, even ‘All Evening Parking’ for $4 at the Liquor Store Lot just up the street from Metro.

BUS ROUTES:

We’re close to the Marpole bus loop and on the #10 route. Check out www.translink.ca for transit directions.

CONTACT:

Metro for more information, publicity photos, arrangements for interviews and press tickets.