UPDATED NOW WEEKLY REVIEW!

This quirky comedy, tightly written and directed by David Finley, takes place on a day that holds unexplained past significance for a writer named Eddie (Timothy Walker). On top of that, he has to deal with his fed-up girlfriend Charlotte (Megan Murphy), losing his job, his brutal AA sponsor (John Dickie) and a name-dropping psychiatrist (John Illingworth).The exceptional cast instinctively play off each other, with extra kudos to Murphy, who ensures that her tightly wound, lisping Charlotte retains some dignity. Finley also includes some charming physical comedy, turning actor Ryan Giesen into a human sandwich board that gets tons of laughs.

Artist: by David Finley
Where: Robert Gill Theatre
When: Jul 2 at 11 pm , Jul 4 at 5:15 pm (07/04/2009) , Jul 5 at 4:45 pm (07/05/2009) , Jul 6 at 2:45 pm (07/06/2009) , Jul 8 at 9:15 pm (07/08/2009) , Jul 9 at 1:45 pm (07/09/2009) , Jul 11 at 7 pm (07/11/2009)

NOW NEWSPAPER REVIEW

This quirky comedy, tightly written and directed by David Finley, takes place on a day that holds unexplained past significance for a writer named Eddie (Timothy Walker). On top of that, he has to deal with his fed-up girlfriend, losing his job, his brutal AA sponsor and a name-dropping psychiatrist. Finley also includes some charming physical comedy that gets laughs.

SECOND REVIEW (way to go Tim's calves)

I walked down St. George Street to the Robert Gill Theatre to see Donny's Day, "a comedy about a guy named Eddie". The play an hilarious comedy that I recommend. A very funny tale of Eddie (Timothy Walker) an alcoholic (1 year sober) who is having a very, very, very bad day. Despite his flaws, Eddie is a fun guy, if commitment shy. (Shh...I think actor, Timothy Walker has great calves.) Other characters in the play include Eddie's girlfriend, his shrink (strongly paid by John Illingworth), his sponsor, and an acquaintance/friend. Shout out to "Sandwich Board Guy", Ryan Giesen.

http://tmtmshow.blogspot.com

4 OUT OF 5 STARS SAYS FIRST REVIEW

BY DAMIAN ROGERS FOR EYE WEEKLY

The day that this well-written and funny play chronicles actually belongs to Eddie (Timothy Walker), and Eddie is having a very shouty day indeed. He’s been fired from his lacklustre job only to be serially dumped by his shrill (and yet strangely lisping) girlfriend, his borderline-abusive AA sponsor and his wildly unorthodox therapist, sending him into the open, grasping arms of his enabling bartender. Walker invests sad-sack Eddie with enough dry snark to keep him afloat through one shitstorm after another while the whole cast digs happily into David Finley’s script, which is both crisp and clever. It’s a testament to the production’s darkly playful humour that it never descends into bitterness, even when the message is that only animals are worthy companions. 

http://www.eyeweekly.com/fringe/article/64030

THE CAST AND CREW

Actor TIMOTHY WALKER (Eddie) is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School. Recent productions include Macbeth (Duncan/Porter), Hamlet (Laertes) and Twelfth Night (Toby Betch) for the Classical Theatre Project. He is a recent graduate of the International School for comic acting in Italy where he studied Commedia Dell'Arte with Antonio Fava.

Actor MEGAN MURPHY (Charlotte) is a graduate of the York University Theatre program. She has numerous credits in film and television programs. For one year she co-hosted a morning radio show at STAR 93.3 FM and her numerous stage credits range from one woman shows such as I, Claudia to productions of Waiting for Lefty and All's Well That Ends Well.

Actor JOHN DICKIE (B0b) is a 40-year veteran of the Toronto music scene. He has recorded and performed as a lead singer with such bands as Crowbar, Mondo Combo, and the Jeff Healey Band. He has opened for James Cotton, opened for and jammed with the Neville Brothers and Albert Collins. Currently he is recording a CD with Steve Hunter. This is his return to acting after a long layoff.

Actor JOHN ILLINGWORTH (Dr.Dimaggio) has appeared in over 100 productions for many theatre and film companies. He has acted for CBC television and radio, Factory Theatre Lab, Stage Centre Productions, Scarborough Theatre Guild, Richmond Hill Curtain Club and Hart House Theatre. He appeared last year at the Toronto Fringe in Without Whom, about sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury, written by R.J. Downes. 

Also a graduate of the York University Theatre program, actor RYAN GIESEN (Pete) grew up in tiny Limehouse, Ontario. He started having sex with girls in Georgetown, Ontario, but matured recently on the Danforth where he currently resides, still having sex although few times and farther between. 

Writer/Director DAVID FINLEY is a published writer of short fiction, a television screenwriter and story-editor, an award winning playwright and writer/director/producer of the short film My Last Confession. In 1996 he recieved a Gemini Award nomination for Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program. In 2003 he received an Award of Excellence from The Alliance for Children and Television. He won the 2005 Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding New Musical for Aladdin and in 2006 he received another nomination for Snow White and the Group of Seven. His film My Last Confession, has screened at 40 International Film Festivals in 12 countries and has won several awards and nominations. More info can be found at www.finworks.ca

Co-Producer YAN MOORE was Consulting Producer on David's film My Last Confession. Prior to that, he worked as a television script-writer/story editor. His many credits include the original Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, Road to Avonlea, Liberty Street, Riverdale, and 2030CE. He is Co-creator of the current Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Stage Manager HEATHER PRINSLOO hails from the west, but now makes TO her home base for operations for all things drama; teaching, stage managing, managing, ninja-ing, writing and walking with her loving husband and two mini-schnauzers. She is currently a teacher in York Region until she starts her new job as a mom in the early winter. Her fetus thanks you for turning off your cell phones during the performances.

Assistant Stage Manager/Errand Girl KRISTYN LITTLE once had a cartoon princess named after her. She is not an actress but she plays on The Sims 3.

Art Director KELSEY GRIFFIN is responsible for the fierce artwork that appears in Donny's Day. The latest furricous addition in Kelsey's life is her newly adopted kitten Kevin. 

Among the offerings at this year’s Fringe Theatre Festival is a new play by Dora Mavor Moore Award-winning playwright, David Finley.
Donny’s Day is a broad comedy about one day in the life of Eddie Kowalski (performed by Timothy Walker) - an alcoholic, commitment-phobic, chronically procrastinating, wannabe writer wiseass. Yes, Eddie has issues. And they all come out as he endures the day from hell. Along the way, we meet his girlfriend (Megan Murphy), his AA sponsor (John Dickie, 40-year veteran of the Toronto music scene making his return to the stage after a lengthy absence), his psychiatrist (John Illingworth) and his erstwhile bartender, Pete (Ryan Giesen).
David won the 2005 Dora for outstanding New Musical for “Aladdin”. He was nominated for the same award in 2006 for “Snow White and the Group of Seven.” This will be his theatrical directing debut.
Donny’s Day plays at the Robert Gill Theater, 214 College Street, 3rd Floor (St. George St. entrance). The Fringe Festival runs July 1-12.

SHOW OPENS TODAY!!

Tonight is the first performance of "Donny's Day" at The Robert Gill Theater at 11pm


"one of the most optimistic plays in this years frill reverential day is Donny’s Day written and directed obturate whirl a blind eye to to David Finley" -online source

Get your tickets if you haven't already, See you at the show!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/theatre/unexpected-buyer-offers-5000-for-dora-award/article1191565

One more day before the debut of Donny's Day! Get your tickets to the best play being shown at this year's Fringe Festival!