Butterflies Are Free

"Butterflies Are Free"

Directed by Gail Palmer
Ass Director Christine Hillan

A young man moves out of home after the unhappiness of a failed love affair
and against the wishes of his overbearing mother.

He finds himself in an enchanting friendship with the girl next door.

Blindness is both a challenge and an inspiration to the young couple.
To the mother it is a battle she cannot win.

An ideal blend of humour and serious elements.

Featuring: Dan Mitton, Katy Mitton, Jacqui Warner, Douglas Sutherland-Bruce

Before it opened in 1969, potential producers scoffed at the marketing value of Leonard Gershes sentimental play, Butterflies are Free, let alone expecting it to be a long-running hit. 1,128 performances later, those same producers were forced to accept that a play about a blind man’s attempt at self-reliance was the right material at the right time.

Now, nearly forty years later talented Director Gail Palmer has chosen to re-present this engaging play for Marloo Theatre.

The play centers on Don, a talented musician that has left the nest to fly on his own. He seems well-adjusted in his grungy New York City loft, and has a very positive outlook on life, doubly impressive considering he cannot see.

Jill Tanner is the flighty next door neighbor from L.A. who smashes her way into Dons loft, bed and heart. Hovering in the wings are Dons overbearing and overprotective mom and Jill’s out-there, self-obsessed visionary of an Off-off-Broadway director, Ralph.

After Jill discovers what a cool guy Don is, and how well he handles his blindness,
the two set up a fragile romance that will be tested by both mom and Ralph.

While the play has elements of soap opera it is still rather sweet, poignant, and funny.

Gail has brought together a talented cast - the first time in Marloo’s history when every member of the cast has won a Marloo Best Actor Award at some time.

Being blind and playing at being blind are two different things, and Dan Mitton has done what it takes to avoid playing at. Never overly-dramatic, and never drawing attention to what he is doing, Dan has transformed himself into the rarely self-conscious blind man required from the part of Don.

The character of Jill Tanner was originally based on the playwright’s next door neighbor, Mia Farrow, here played by Dan’s real-life wife, the lovely and talented Katy Mitton.

As the Scarsdale-mom-with-apron-strings-of-steel, Jacqui Warner takes a star turn once more, perfectly balancing the overprotective parts of her character with a wonderfully wry wit and bite that nearly redeems her clutching ways.

The obnoxious Ralph is played with gusto and a certain amount of sleeze by Douglas Sutherland-Bruce.