PETER COLLEY Playwright-Screenwriter
YOU'LL GET
USED TO IT
- THE WAR SHOW
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Musical
NOTE: This play is designed for the Canadian market only
An American version is currently being planned
FASCINATING STORY! A review from the
Ottawa Citizen and a fascinating human-interest story from the Kanata Theatre, Ottawa, production
2005.
For details CLICK HERE
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CAST: 6 Males, 2 Females (Minimum with
doubling, many more without doubling) |
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THE STORY: "YOU'LL GET USED TO IT" traces a squad of Canadian soldiers and the women in their lives, from the beginning of their enlistment, to the final victory of World War II. From the rambunctious comedy of their boot camp days, to chasing girls in England, to the terrors of D-Day, this play captures the essence of that era through humour, songs, and drama. |
| This musical play was commissioned and dramaturged by Heinar Piller, Artistic Director of The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, Canada, where it received its premiere. It subsequently transferred to the Performing Theatre Company in Toronto. Since then it has been produced in many other professional regional theatres. A Canadian tour ended in a sold-out run at the Muskoka Festival Theatre. There have been record-breaking productions at The Gryphon Theatre and The Lighthouse Theatre, as well as recent sold-out productions at the Drayton Festival Theatre and Mississauga Music Theatre (both these productions added performances due to ticket demand). Other recent productions include The Sunshine Festival in Orillia and The Stirling Festival, and the Western Canada Theatre Company and The Port Summer Theatre in 2000. In 2001 it has been seen at the Huron Country Playhouse and the King’s Wharf Theatre. Recent productions include the Langham Court Theatre, Victoria BC, The Kanata Theatre, Ottawa and in 2007 The Newmarket Stage Company and the Georgetown Music Theatre. The play was published jointly by Simon & Pierre/The Dundurn Press and is now available through the Playwrights Guild of Canada. |
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| REVIEWS |
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Ř “This is an order: go and see “YOU'LL GET USED TO IT!”! It will overwhelm you on all fronts with its irreverent and poignant portrayals [of Canadian soldiers]... the opening night audience was in stitches... tears were rolling down my face! ... Great entertainment!”The Simcoe Reformer Ř “YOU'LL GET USED TO IT!” was simply wonderful! Bursting with energy and charm, the production sent the audience on a two-hour high! Jokes come thick and fast at the beginning ... devastatingly funny... [later it] wrenches the heart. Beautifully shaded, [the play] drove forward with compelling force... the audience exploded with delight!”The Tribune (Markham) Ř “Exuberant... poignant... offset by sketches of great hilarity! It was always moving, and never lagged. [There were] brimming eyes in the audience... a truly memorable evening of theatre. Shining through it all was the human spirit... its indomitability and strength.”The Barrie Advance
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Ř “YOU'LL GET USED TO IT! is not your typical musical. It is very emotional... full of tears and laughter. It perfectly captures the spirit of the war years.”The Toronto Star Ř “This
play has everything... music, laughter and tears ... an outstanding piece
of theatre... remarkable success!” Ř “The epilogue hushes an audience that has been enjoying itself to make the point that the human race did survive, but not totally with honour. Audiences are undoubtedly prepared to enjoy “YOU'LL GET USED TO IT!” for all its sad memories.”The Toronto Globe & Mail Ř “A unique combination of comedy and tragedy, music and dance. Real emotions... brought home, in a new way, the meaning of war. An entertaining blend of humor and drama... time seemed to fly by!”The Examiner Ř “This potpourri of the war years is tender, frightening, painful and insightful. The show skipped along through wise-cracks, war scenes and moments of love and endearment... The audience gave it a standing ovation.”The Huronia Holiday
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Ř WAR
SHOW FULL OF GUTS AND GLORY! “Takes the audience
through a range of emotions thanks to a humorous yet intelligent script...
a flawless portrayal of life in the most difficult of times. With
rapid repartee and slapstick humour, the cast took the audience on a
historic and hysterical romp. Their romances, dreams and hopes all
blend together in a story so heartfelt and real, the audience was audibly
sniffing and wiping away tears. The cast portrayed the rising of the
human spirit with guts and ingenuity, garnering a well-deserved standing
ovation. The feelings are there, rare and un-censored, but the
indomitable human spirit rises in the end." The Daily Courier Ř THE WAR SHOW was the winner of the Encore Series Best Production award -- produced by Music Theatre Mississauga.
Ř "I
was in the grocery store yesterday and was hugged by so many people who
really enjoyed your play. For the first time here in 30 years the
audience rose en masse to give standing ovations. On closing night
the cast all cried -- they didn't want to let the experience
go." |
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The MusicMakers produced the play twice at the Victoria Hall, Cobourg, playing to sold-out houses and raising enough money to donate $10,000 to Habitat For Humanity. For details, CLICK HERE.
To see lots of photos of the Newmarket Stage 2007 production CLICK HERE
Check out the posters & reviews from Drayton Entertainment's Productions at THE DRAYTON FESTIVAL and THE HURON COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE and THE KING'S WHARF THEATRE
For information on Drayton Entertainment's productions click on the poster below
CLICK IN THE PICTURE
CLICK ON PICTURES BELOW TO READ FULL REVIEWS
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"You'll Get Used To It shines... |
"War Show, poignant, funny..." |
"War Show opens to rave review..." |
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Scenes from THE WAR SHOW are published in the book "BEHIND THE SCENES - A CANADIAN SCENE BOOK" (Simon & Pierre)
Playscripts and rights available From:
The Playwrights Guild of Canada
215 Spadina Ave. Suite #210 Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 2C7
Tel: (416) 703-0201 Fax: 416) 703-0059
WEB SITE: www.playwrightsguild.ca E-MAIL:
mailto:info@playwrightsguild.ca
The Playwrights Guild handles the amateur rights of this
play in Canada. For all other rights please contact the author at
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