BY MAREK KRASUSKI
For more than 30 years Michael Shepherd has acted, directed and
written for the theatre, first in the country of his birth,
England, and later in the United States and Canada. With the
benefit of maturity that comes with experience, Shepherd brings
this expertise into the direction of Theatre Cambrian's
dinner/theatre performance of Moon Over Buffalo, playing at the
Jubilee Centre Nov. 24 and 25.
This play, originally written to entice actor Carol Burnett
back to the stage after a successful film career, is a
situation comedy replete with sexual innuendo, infidelity,
mistaken identity and conflicting aspirations.
Given the slapstick antics essential for an effective delivery,
the physicality of the roles requires substantial energy, an
effort Shepherd said he believes his cast of characters will
execute with consummate skill.
"Members of this cast have incredible enthusiasm. Last night,
for instance, their energy level could have lit up the city of
Sudbury," Shepherd said, drawing on local metaphor to achieve
effect.
Shepherd's acting career began in 1974. Eight years later he
received what he describes as every actor's dream-a call from
the Stratford Theatre Festival to perform. After several
seasons at Stratford, interspersed with touring performances in
the United States., he relocated to Toronto where he worked for
children's theatre, a move that precipitated a shift into
writing and directing.
"When I proposed that we perform Treasure Island (Robert Louis
Stevenson's loved adventure story), I was asked to write and
direct it. So began my career as writer and
director." 
That career in creative output continues to blossom, driven by
an inability to stop, at least until the theatre patron returns
to the "great casting agent in the sky."
His literary portfolio includes 12 plays, seven of which have
been produced. Several of his 14 short stories have been aired
on CBC Radio.
He is also a familiar face in local community theatre
productions playing a superb Professor Higgins in Theatre
Cambrian's My Fair Lady a few years ago.
Shepherd is unfazed by the transition from premier venues like
Stratford to amateur performances. Process, it seems,
supercedes the need for recognition. "I am really lucky to have
such a good cast willing to work extremely hard," he said,
referring to his mostly young cast described as his "young
Turks."
In what may be described as a departure from the disciplinarian
role of the director orchestrating every onstage move, Shepherd
takes a decidedly more interpretive approach, allowing the
actors to grow into their roles.
"It gives me a great deal of pleasure seeing them give into the
creation of their characters," he notes.
The Jubilee Centre is located on Applegrove St., behind the
court house downtown. Evening performances begin with dinner at
6 p.m. Tickets for the theatre/dinner plays and Saturday's
matinee can be purchased at Records On Wheels or by
phoning  524-7317. 
