Kanata Theatre: the 37th season (2005-2006) |
The Show Must Go On |
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by Clare Flockton As you get comfy in your seat, while the music starts and the house lights fade, take a minute to think of all the hard work and energy that goes into bringing a production to life on the stage of the Ron Maslin Playhouse. There are usually upwards of twenty to thirty members of Kanata Theatre working diligently on stage and behind the scenes to make sure that each and every production comes off without a hitch. Now since this is live theatre, the likelihood of not having any mishaps during a run of a show and its lead up time are highly improbable. Kanata Theatre has seen dedicated actors perform a ten-day run with broken bones and other ailments. There was one show where an actor had a terrible bout of the flu and a bucket had to placed off stage in case a wave of nausea overcame the actor while on stage. Drinking Alone is no different. During the summer rehearsal schedule, Ben Tolley who will be playing the role of Ivan Todd, suffered a moderate to major heart attack which left him in hospital for two weeks. Two weeks may not seem like a long time to recover from a heart attack; however, when you put it into a nine-week rehearsal schedule the effects can be considerable. Kanata Theatre prides itself on its professionalism and rose to the challenge, considering that the show must go on. In Tolley’s absence, the cast and crew had to rally together and keep the show moving. The cast and crew were concerned for Tolley’s convalescence and many went to visit him in the hospital wishing him a speedy recovery. A hard choice had to be made. Since Kanata Theatre does not have understudies, it needed to be decided whether to wait for Tolley to recover or to replace him halfway into the rehearsal period. The wise choice was made to keep him in the role and Tolley has had to make up for lost time. He has meticulously been going over his lines and working particularly hard to ensure that his performance is nothing but excellent. All Tolley’s hard work is going to pay off as he breathes life into the character of Joe Todd’s estranged father Ivan Todd. It becomes yet another tale of excitement that often occurs in live theatre. Drinking Alone opens Tuesday September 20th and runs until Saturday September 24th 2005, then again from Tuesday September 27th until Saturday October 1st. A champagne reception will be hosted on the opening night of the show, so make sure you pick up your tickets at the Ron Maslin playhouse at 1 Ron Maslin Way (right off Terry Fox Drive).
The Box Office is now open Monday to Friday 5pm until 8pm and Saturdays 10am to
noon. Tickets are $15 each or a 5-play season subscription is $60. Call the Box
Office at 831-4435 or view the website at www.kanatatheatre.com. |
