Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

Drama Canadian

The Gentleman Clothier

by (author) Norm Foster

Publisher
Playwrights Canada Press
Initial publish date
Apr 2016
Category
Canadian
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781770915275
    Publish Date
    Apr 2016
    List Price
    $15.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781770915299
    Publish Date
    Apr 2016
    List Price
    $10.99

Add it to your shelf

Where to buy it

Description

Experienced tailor Norman Davenport has barely opened the doors to his new clothing store in downtown Halifax when Sophie, an exuberant young woman, barges in looking for work, followed by Patrick, a single father who claims to be handy. Hesitantly Norman hires them both to tie up the last few threads before the grand opening. And whether Norman realizes it or not, he needs help getting into the twenty-first century to cater to the current tastes of his customers. When the shop’s first customer, Alisha Sparrow, a friendly, attractive woman, drops in looking for a suit for her husband, Norman is smitten against his better judgment. His sensible, modest world has become profoundly complicated in less than a week, and Norman longs to live in a simpler time. Unfortunately for him, his life is about to get messier as he wakes to find things are not what they used to be.

About the author

Norm Foster was born in Newmarket, Ontario on St. Valentineâ??s Day. Raised in Toronto, he attended West Hill Collegiate Institute and then went on to study Radio and Television Arts at Centennial College in Toronto and then Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Upon completion of his studies, he began a radio career that would span twenty-five years and which would take him from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg to Kingston and finally to Fredericton, New Brunswick. It was in Fredericton in 1980 that Norm was introduced to the world of theatre. Foster fell in love with the theatre right then and there, and two years later he penned his first professionally produced play, Sinners. It was produced by Theatre New Brunswick and directed by Malcolm Black, who would also direct Fosterâ??s next effort, the highly successful, The Melville Boys. The Melville Boys would go on to be produced across Canada and in the United States, including a well-received run Off Broadway in New York. It would become Fosterâ??s signature play, and the one which would bring his name to the forefront of Canadian theatre. Since then, Norm Foster has produced an astonishing output of work. Nearly forty plays in all, including The Affections of May, the most produced play in Canada in 1991. He has also written a musical with composer Leslie Arden (The Last Resort) and three musicals (Jasper Station, Race Day, and Sitting Pretty) with composer Steve Thomas.

Norm Foster's profile page

Excerpt: The Gentleman Clothier (by (author) Norm Foster)

Norman: Do you think I’m old-fashioned? Patrick: No. Old-fashioned is someone who is behind the current time. You’re in a different time altogether. Like this fellow here. He points to the newspaper. Norman: That's George Bernard Shaw. Patrick: Well, that's the time you belong in. George Bernard Shaw’s time. Oh, look. He points at the counter. A lady bug. Norman: What? Patrick: A lady bug. There. On your newspaper. Norman: Oh. So it is. Patrick picks up the newspaper slowly. Patrick: Lady bug lady bug fly away home. Your house is on fire and your children are gone. Norman: That's a disturbing poem, isn't it? Patrick: Hold out your hands.? Norman: What for?? Patrick: Just hold out your hands. Patrick gently moves the newspaper over to Norman’s hand and brushes the lady bug into Norman’s palms. Now, make a wish.

Other titles by