Le Petit ‘Waiting in the Wings’ for March opening

Playwright Noel Coward may not have had Le Petit de Terrebonne in mind when he penned “Waiting in the Wings,” but he easily could have.

The production opens March 1 at the Main Street theatre and runs through March 11. Board member and stage pro Edwina Yakupzack is directing the cast of 17.

Set in Britain in 1960, “Waiting in the Wings” centers on a less-than-lavish retirement home for former stage actressesn“the Wings” part of the play’s titlenliving out their declining years.

By definition, if someone is waiting in the wings, they are in the background, but relatively close by, ready to act on short notice.

And such is the place the leading characters Lotta Bainbridge and antagonist May Davenport find themselves.

The plot centers on a long-standing feudnstarted long ago over a mannbetween the legendary May and new Wings’ arrival Lotta.

The rivalry is only heightened when the women agree to be profiled by a journalist with the London Times. The story was to have included a plea for funding for a much-needed solarium, which the Wings’ miserly board of directors has refused to build because of the cost. But when the unscrupulous writer infiltrates the home and pens a gossipy piece, the feud looks as though it will reach new heights.

Ultimately, the column does more good than harm, and even brings the two former divas to a peaceful reunion.

Le Petit’s Jeanne Caldarera stars in the Lotta role, while Ouida Best handles the part of May.

Yakupzack said her “cast of thousands” includes another 17 actors, many of whom are new faces on the Le Petit stage. They are Donna Benda, Gayle Walters, Linda Stone, Jeanne Scott, Pat Crochet, Jillian Vedros, Robyn Hornsby, Reivin Johnson, Gwen Trahan, Kate Theriot, Linda Schexnayder, Mike Brossette, Donald Theriot and Tim Stevens.

Linda Bourgeois serves as stage manager and is assisted by Tami Jenkins. Donna Bender is producing the show.

“That was what attracted [Le Petit’s reading committee] to this show,” the director said of the cast size. “We also liked the premise. We’re mostly older actors, so we could relate to the characters in the Wings.

And we were really attracted to the oneness between the actors. It was something we could all relate to.”

Coward’s clever script only made the choice more enticing.

“It’s fun to watch these old ladies shooting one-liners back and forth,” Yakupzack admits.

Le Petit’s version of “Waiting in the Wings” will stay true to the Britain setting minus the British accents. “We do have an Irish and an excellent Cockney accent, but the rest of us are doing it straight,” the director said.

The audience shouldn’t worry about understanding Coward’s English, either.

Yakupzack said she is including a vocabulary list in the show’s program. And the really unfamiliar terms, like a lorry (Brits’ word for truck), are being replaced.

“Waiting in the Wings” runs for 10 days.

The theatre will be dark March 5.

Performances will be held nightly at 7:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. matinees will be held on March 4 and 11. Tickets are $10, and are available from the box office by calling (985) 876-4278.