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Could you be Mimi's next blind date?

Remember what a first date is like? Now imagine a couple of hundred other people tagging along to watch. Awkward? Oh, yeah. But also entertaining and unpredictable.
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Sudbury Theatre Centre's Blind Date runs until Feb. 14. Supplied photo.
Remember what a first date is like? Now imagine a couple of hundred other people tagging along to watch. Awkward? Oh, yeah. But also entertaining and unpredictable.

That’s the essence of Blind Date created by Rebecca Northan, the February offering at the Sudbury Theatre Centre.

Not a play, exactly, because it’s mostly improvisation with the participation of a member of the audience, but it’s a clever choice leading up to Valentines Day.

The main character is a French clown named Mimi who has been stood up for a blind date at a restaurant. For the Sudbury production Christy Bruce brings four years of experience and razor sharp improvisational skills to the role of Mimi.

But the other star of the show could be you (if you’re male) since one man chosen from the audience will go through the motions of a real date with her. The man gets to spend 90 minutes with a woman who’s beautiful, sexy, intelligent, witty, fully attentive and committed to giving him a good experience.

The downside is that it’s all witnessed by his real-life girlfriend or wife (if he has one). A bit of a buzz-kill there.

The rules of the show dictate that Mimi and her date stay in character while they sip wine at a restaurant or go for a drive in her car, but either of them can call a “time out” when needed.

Then they move to a special corner of the stage to discuss things and solve any point of confusion or discomfort. That includes bringing the audience into the conversation. The man’s real wife or partner can also call a time out if things go beyond her comfort zone.

Picking the right audience member is obviously critical, and for the opening night show at STC Christy Bruce picked a young Sudbury guy named Dawson, who was not only a good sport but also added a few creative touches of his own as his comfort increased over time (the wine probably helped, too).

There were some elements of a date that Dawson was clearly not prepared to do, at least in the presence of his long-time girlfriend, Sarah. But that’s OK — Mimi had solutions, because the point of the show is fun, not embarrassment.

Even so, the printed program includes a disclaimer that the production can’t be held responsible if the man’s participation results in a breakup.

Although Mimi has a structured plan to bring about an actual storyline with a satisfying conclusion, every performance is different and impossible to predict, so you might want to see Blind Date more than once.

You could even learn something about romance (guys), just in time for Valentine's Day.

Blind Date runs until Feb. 14 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre. The box office number is 705-674-8381, ext. 21 or go to www.sudburytheatre.ca.

Scott Overton is the author of the thriller Dead Air. He writes theatre reviews for NorthernLife.ca.

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