Most people know Driving Miss Daisy as the 1989 film that earned 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress for Jessica Tandy. The film also starred Morgan Freeman and Dan Aykroyd in award nominated roles. The film is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning play from 1987 by Alfred Uhry. The stage adaptation runs at Stage West until November 13^th.

Set in Atlanta over a 25-year period from the 1950’s – 1970’s, the play was inspired by Uhry's grandmother, Lena Fox, her chauffeur, Will Coleman, and his father. His grandmother, a Jewish woman who lived in Atlanta during the 1960s, had to give up driving after a car accident, and hired Coleman, who drove her for 25 years. The same story – starting with the sound of a car crash – is what is explored for 90 minutes. Themes of Racism, Anti-Semitism, Friendship, and Family are interwoven with comedy and drama.

The play stars two of Calgary’s true theatre icons Maureen Thomas (Daisy) and Christopher Hunt (Boolie). They are joined on stage by English actor Joseph Marcell, who delivers on the role of Hoke. While North American audiences know him best as Geoffrey, the sarcastic butler on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire, his training in classical theatre and Shakespeare shows in his stunning performance. It’s a powerhouse cast that give a performance that will be high on the list of nominees when Calgary’s theatre awards are announced.

It's remarkable watching the characters age 25 years before our eyes simply through posture and movement. The genuine affection that develops among the characters leaps from the stage. It’s a master class in great acting and the audience is lucky enough to be a part of it. At times, like a monologue from Hoke about seeing a friend’s father dead from lynching the audience is silent, so engaged in the storytelling and emotion on stage.

After years of focusing on comedies and musicals, it’s refreshing to see Stage West bring a drama back to their stage and show how well they can do it. Driving Miss Daisy is also the first show with a guest star since George Wendt starred in The Fox on the Fairway in 2014. The theatre has a long history of people who have graced its stage with TV and Film credits from the late Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island) to Jamie Farr (MASH), singer Irene Cara (Flashdance), Cindy Williams (Laverne and Shirley) and the legendary Mickey Rooney. While having a guest star can attract attention to a show, the quality of the show is vital, and Driving Miss Daisy delivers.

This is a must see show. Adding in the always stellar buffet and you have a night out that will leave you full of food and thoughts as you head out the door.

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Locale Calgary |

Topic Stagewest | Theatre |