Goodbye, Piccadilly
Heather Esdon, Matt Gibson, Tracey Ferencz, Meg Walter and Mo Bock in Goodbye, Piccadilly
Comedy/drama. 2m,3f. 2 acts.
Goodbye, Piccadilly begins with Bess Brickley in a flurry of excitement.
She's just learned that Brick, her husband of more than 50 years, has been awarded the Order of Canada.
This has barely had time to sink in, however, when she receives the shocking news that Brick has been found dead on a bench in Leicester Square in London, England.
This is a tragedy cloaked in a mystery because she thought he was on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park.
As layers are peeled away, secrets stretching back to World War II are uncovered.
Full of heart, humour and surprises, Goodbye, Piccadilly is a universal story about the families we have and the families we make.
"Goodbye, Piccadilly was one of those rare ones that you read and just say yes.
It has warmth and humour, a strong story line, real heart and broad general appeal.
It has everything." -- Anne Chislett, Artistic Director, Blyth Festival.
Production History
Thousand Islands Playhouse, Gananoque, May 9-June 11, 2002.
Directed by Greg Wanless. Designed by Carolyn M. Smith.
Featuring Mo Bock, Heather Esdon, Tracey Ferencz, Matthew Gibson, Meg Walter.
Blyth Festival, July 3-Aug. 9, 2002.
Directed by Diana Belshaw. Designed by Shawn Kerwin.
Featuring Janet Amos, Caroline Gillis, Elva Mai Hoover, John Jarvis, Bob Nasmith.
Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton. Oct. 22-Nov.8, 2003.
Directed by Greg Wanless. Designed by Carolyn M. Smith.
Featuring Mo Bock, Lorna Wilson, Tracey Ferencz, Matthew Gibson, Diane Stapley.
The Red Barn Theatre, Jackson's Point, ON. July 28-Aug. 14, 2004.
Directed by Jordan Merkur.
Featuring Stuart Dowling, Reg Dreger, Nonnie Griffin, Diane Hollingsworth, Arlene Mazerolle.
Darkhorse Theatre, Shaunavon, SASK. April, 2006.
Directed by Joanne Gregoire.
London Community Players, London, ON. June 14-24, 2007 Directed by Sue Perkins
Burl-Oak Theatre
Oakville, Ont.
Sept. - Oct. 2008
Directed by Andrew Park
Upcoming -- Many Hats Theatre - Penticton, BC - November, 2010
Sampling of Critics' Comments
"First rate Canadian theatre. Bowie's writing is wonderful ... His plot and dialogue continually catch the audience by surprise, creating a run-don't walk, feel-good production that will make you both laugh and cry ... particularly delicious ..." -- Classical 96.3 FM (Toronto)
"Simply put in two words Goodbye, Piccadilly is WONDER-FULL. The wonder starts with a brilliant multi-layered script by award-winning screenwriter Douglas Bowie. Full of mystery, drama, humour, sentiment and nostalgia, this play leaves few heartstrings that aren't tugged at one point or another... Bowie is a gifted writer and Goodbye, Piccadilly is a showpiece of his art ... totally enjoyable ... it doesn't get much better than this." -- 701.com, Hamilton.
"Beautiful, moving and extremely funny ... a journey which inspires and uplifts us, while at the same time making us laugh out loud." -- Huron County Scene
"A dilly ... funny, poignant ... it touches on the core of humanity -- forgiveness, compassion, heroism." -- London Free Press
"Refreshing ... so moving ... makes us care deeply about the emotional predicaments of the characters ... This is a play with a big, brash heart that will not be denied. It has the potential of becoming an audience favorite ... and had the opening night audience on its feet, shouting bravos." -- Kitchener-Waterloo Record
"Mr. Bowie has written wonderful characters ... who provide genuine laughter and even a sniffle or two ... Four and seven eighths stars (out of five.)" -- NCPR, U.S. Public Radio (New York State)
"Great Canadian theatre ... enchanting ... Goodbye, Piccadilly is simply heart-warming, and provides the audience with tears of sadness, tears of joy, and tears of sheer laughter." -- Clinton News-Record
"Touching, funny ... satisfying and original ... blend of genres -- mystery, drama, the supernatural and often hilarious humour, from zinging wit to Fawlty Towers farce." -- Brockville Recorder & Times
"Goodbye, Piccadilly is a charming and engaging story peppered with fun and interesting characters that you truly care about ... I had a lovely and entertaining time at the theatre. I'm sure you will too." -- Mohawk Radio, Hamilton
"Goodbye, Piccadilly plays tag with emotions, ranging from startling, heart-wrenching pathos, to gentle humour, blended with a touch of exaggerated farce ... it provokes thought as much as tears and laughter." -- CH Television, Hamilton.
"Douglas Bowie's romantic new comedy bristles with intelligent discovery ... a cracking good story that engaged a teary Aquarius audience. And because it has important things to say about the nature of sacrifice and love, we are drawn into the heartbeat of this touching comedy ... In the end, Goodbye, Piccadilly fills the throat with a welcome lump ..." -- The Hamilton Spectator
"Hilarious ... quick and witty and at times quite complex ... Anyone who enjoys good Canadian stories with just the right balance of drama and comedic relief will absolutely love this play." -- The Silhouette, McMaster, Hamilton
"Thoroughly enjoyable ... Goodbye, Piccadilly offers up a nice blend of drama, comedy and intriguing plot twists ... Douglas Bowie's clever script features terrific dialogue, deftly handled by this stellar cast." -- The Georgina Advocate
"Goodbye, Piccadilly is an entertaining and touching domestic drama ... Bowie has a very good ear, verbal and musical, and brings his characters to quirky, solid life ... cunningly charted ... the second act revelations are movingly written and deepen the issues with which the play is concerned ... a good commercial piece." -- The National Post
Playwright's Notes For The Premiere Production
I'm sometimes asked where my ideas come from, and usually all I can honestly say is -- I don't have a clue. But, as Bess says in Goodbye, Piccadilly, people expect a "proper answer", and so --
The Goodbye, Piccadilly team at the Thousand Islands Playhouse
Last spring, while waiting for the phone to ring on a TV project -- an all too common situation for a television writer -- I started noodling, doodling on legal pads on possible ideas for a new script -- I didn't even know it would be a play at that point -- free-associating, jotting down random thoughts, which is the way I sometimes work. Often such doodling leads nowhere. I have files full of stillborn scribbles. Occasionally, however, disconnected fragments begin to jell, and a story of sorts emerges.
Out of curiosity I took a look at these early notes. After two or three pages of meaningless meanderings, the following snippets and phrases begin to appear -- "Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover ... echoes of war ... flashbacks ... small town inn ... What is family? What is a hero? ... 50th anniversary of VE Day ... canoe trip".
These handwritten notes eventually extended to some 80 pages, including chunks of dialogue and descriptions of scenes, before I finally turned on the computer and began the actual writing of what has become Goodbye, Piccadilly. But it's interesting, to me, at least, to see how many of the early half-formed ideas still lurk and resonate on stage as the actors bring the play comes alive.
Goodbye, Piccadilly, above all, is about family, and I'd like to dedicate it to mine -- Kay, Joan, and Alison -- each of whom has inspired it in her own way.
Further Reading
Read the opening scene of Goodbye, Piccadilly
