2009 Season
2009 MAINSTAGE SERIES - CASTS AND CREATIVE TEAMS
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams – Classic
Directed by: Jordan Merkur
Set Design: David Wootton
Lighting Design: Karen Bayer
Costume Design: Alex Amini
Props: Erin Birkenbergs
Stagemanager: Andrew Dollar
Cast
Amanda Wingfield: Fiona Reid
Tom Wingfield: Jonathan Crombie
Laura Wingfield: Michelle Monteith
Jim: Brendan Murray
Originally performed during the inaugural 1949 Season at the Red Barn Theatre, we are proud to present The Glass Menagerie as the first production of our 60th Anniversary Season. The Glass Menagerie is one of the most famous plays in modern theatre and has been described as the quintessential memory play.
In a cramped, low-rent St. Louis apartment, the Wingfield family struggles to improve their lives: mother Amanda, a single parent, determined, often desperate for change; son Tom, rebellious, longing to flee; and daughter Laura, withdrawn. Tom seeks release and adventure at the movies and midnight wanderings. Amanda has her memories of a Southern girlhood, hoping to connect past and present by finding a “gentleman caller” for her own daughter. And Laura retreats into her private world of music and a collection of glass figures. This haunting and entertaining classic uses humour and pathos to examine a family unraveling, lost in their individual fantasies and dreams.
Show Dates
Preview June 18 @ 8pm
Gala June 19 @ 8pm
June 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, July 1, 2, 3, 4 @ 8pm
June 24, 25, July 1, 2 @ 2pm
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The Melville Boys by Norm Foster – Comedy
Directed by: Jordan Merkur
Set Design: Mary Spyrakis
Lighting Design: Karen Bayer
Costume Design: Alex Amini
Props: Erin Birkenbergs
Cast
Lee Melville: Jason Jazrawy
Owen Melville: Derek Moran
Mary: Robin Schisler
Loretta: Carolyne Maraghi
One of The Red Barn’s more current productions was Norm Foster’s debut comedy hit, The Melville Boys which was first produced here in 1992. This new production captures the essence of Foster’s writing: it’s funny yet profoundly emotional. Brothers Owen and Lee Melville arrive at their aunt’s cottage for a weekend of fishing and beer. Lee, a quiet, responsible married man, hopes to get Owen, his irrepressibly lively brother, to face some serious and life-changing news about the future with realistic maturity. But before they can get the junk food unpacked, Owen has hailed two beautiful women boating on the lake who burst into their weekend retreat, creating unexpected mayhem, delightful temptations, tears and laughter. The women become catalysts for a humourous and unsentimental look at four lives in transition.
Show Dates
Preview July 9 @ 8pm
Gala July 10 @ 8pm
July 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 @ 8pm
July 15, 16, 22, 23 @ 2pm
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The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt - Musical
Directed by: Sue Miner
Musical Director: Rigzin Tute
Set Design: Robin Fisher
Lighting Design: Karen Bayer
Costume Design: Alex Amini
Props: Erin Birkenbergs
Stagemanager: Andrew Dollar
Cast
El Gallo: Cameron MacDufee
Matt: Evan Smith
Luisa: Katie Edwards
Belomy: David Gale
Hucklebee: Stewart Arnott
Henry: Tim Koetting
Mortimer: Jonathan Elull
Mute: Leora Morris
Performed twice at The Red Barn Theatre during the 1968 Season and 1982 season, The Fantasticks is the longest running musical in the world. It tells an allegorical story based on the play The Romancers by Edmond Rostand concerning two eccentric fathers who put up a wall between their houses to ensure that their children don’t fall in love. At the heart of the musical’s poetry and subtle theatrical sophistication is a purity and simplicity that transcends cultural barriers. The result is a timeless fable of young love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. The Fantasticks demonstrates the power of theatrical story telling with its imaginative and bold staging and is punctuated by a series of catchy, memorable songs, many of which have become standards including “Soon Its Gonna Rain” and “Try to Remember.”
Show Dates
Preview July 30 @ 8pm
Gala July 31 @ 8pm
August 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 @ 8pm
August 5, 6, 12, 13 @ 2pm
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Harvest by Ken Cameron – New Comedy
A Co-Production with Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
Directed by: Robert More
Set Design: Bill Chesney
Lighting Design: Karen Bayer
Costume Design: Alex Amini
Stagemanager:
Cast
Patrick Masurkevitch
Robin Craig
Looking towards the future, we have chosen to present for our final show of our 60th anniversary season the new comedy Harvest by Ken Cameron. Allan and Charlotte have retired from farming, and even though they’ve sold the land and moved to a tidy little condo in the big city, they can’t bear to part with the old farmhouse itself. So, they rent it to Ron a young man who seems too good to be true. Sure enough, Ron’s behaviour starts to make them uneasy – he pays his rent in cash, he has no furniture and his roommate is a very business-like Rottweiler. The tale that unfolds is full of twists and surprises and is based on a true story of a couple that nearly lost their life savings when “a nice young man” turned their family farm into something not quite legit. This hilarious and sobering play was a hit last season at the prestigious Blyth Festival.
Show Dates
Preview August 20 @ 8pm
Gala August 21 @ 8pm
August 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, September 2, 3, 4, 5 @ 8pm
August 26, 27, September 2, 3 @ 2pm
