Lighthouse Festival (LF): What’s going to surprise people about this show?

Jeffrey Wetsch (JW): The surprise in this show…is that it’s pure comedy.  No holds barred! A show with one purpose…make everyone laugh!

(LF): What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role? 

(JW): The biggest challenge im finding Playing Chef,  is being the straight man.  It’s not common casting for me. To trust the words to serve up the rest of the characters is a lot of fun but also a lot of responsibility. 

(LF): Besides yourself, which celebrity would you like to see tackle this role?

(JW):  I would love to see Bradly Cooper or maybe even Chevy Chase in his day!  

(LF): What do you love about this character?

(JW): I love Chefs heart.  His desire to succeed and care for everyone around him.  A real carer of others.

(LF): If you could play any other character in this show, who would it be? 

(JW): What other player would i want to play??  That’s a tough one as every cast member is working so successfully at creating these brand new characters for Norm and the audience.   I only see the men who are cast now!  Lol

The post Meet the Cast of A Pack of Thieves | Jeffrey Wetsch as Chef appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

Lighthouse Festival (LF): What will people be talking about in the car on the way home after seeing this show?

Derek Ritschel (DR): I hope they are talking about how much they laughed and enjoyed their evening with us. A Pack Of Thieves is unapologetically a comedy so it’s our hope people just relax and enjoy a good laugh. 

(LF): Who is most like their character in this play? Who is the least like their character?

(DR): I would have to say Jeff is closest to his character, he’s a thinker, a planner  … as is his character, Chef. And I would say Allan is the least like his character. The character Dale isn’t the smartest wolf in our pack but in real life … Allan is a very clever artist.

(LF): What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage / the curtain goes up?  

(DR): One deep breath and a sly wink to my acting partner. It’s time to dance. 

(LF): What’s going to surprise people about this show?

(DR): Nothing. It’s written by Norm Foster. Laughter is about to happen, and everyone knows it. Let the games begin.

(LF): Besides this one, what’s your favorite stage show?

(DR): Tough question for an Artistic Director to answer. I’ve been involved in over 80 shows here. Each and every one has a place in my heart. So, I’ll answer by saying this … I love all my children equally. Long live Lighthouse.  

The post Meet the Cast of A Pack of Thieves | Derek Ritschel as Rubber appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

Lighthouse Festival (LF): Without giving anything away, what’s your favourite line of dialogue in the show?

Brad Rudy (BR): “I’m a river of many moods.” Padre is describing himself to the other crooks.

(LF): Why did you want to be involved in this production?

(BR): I wanted to be in this production because a) I’ve only been in one other Norm Foster play in my whole career, and he has become rather ubiquitous, b) I last worked with director Jamie Williams over 25 years ago when we were both actors at the Stratford Festival and I was excited to work with him as a director, c) I’ve never worked with Derek as an actor; he’s only ever directed me, so I couldn’t wait to share his energy onstage, d) I love playing a ‘heavy’ character, e) I welcome any opportunity to work at Lighthouse, and f) Jamie offered me a great role and I was available.

(LF): Besides yourself, which actor in this production is going to blow people away? 

(BR): That’s the toughest question of all. Without intending to sound diplomatic, there is something about what each guy is doing that will probably blow people away. But Alan is the only actor I had never met before and he is VERY funny; he certainly makes it difficult for me to keep a straight face. 

(LF): What’s going to surprise people about this show?

(BR): Hopefully all the plot twists and character revelations will surprise people. In a comedy like this, you don’t want the audience to be ahead of you or the jokes just won’t work.

(LF): When did you first perform? 

(BR): I first performed for Lighthouse Theatre about 5 or 6 years ago in a play called Something Fishy, playing identical twins. Those were some quick costume changes! If you are asking about when I became a professional actor, it was in 1980 in a production called Alberta Song, while I was still in university.

The post Meet the Cast of A Pack of Thieves | Brad Rudy as Padre appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

Lighthouse Festival (LF): What sort of person is going to love this show?

Allan Cooke (AC): Horse thieves! (and, perhaps, some horses) … and all lovers of Norm Fosters wit-with-heart brand of comedy. This one is classic Foster.

(LF): Why did you want to be involved in this production?

(AC): So many reasons. Chiefly among them, working with the crew at the Lighthouse is always a positive experience. Working with Derek and Jamie again too, albeit in different capacities from how we’d worked in the past, I knew we’d really dig into this script in the best, most fun, way possible. And Moose Tracks ice-cream on the beach is nice too. 

(LF): What are people going to be talking about in the car on the way home from this show? 

(AC): Probably (hopefully!) how well cast it was. Jeff, Brad, Brad and Derek; I can’t imagine any other people playing these roles now, they inhabit them perfectly. 

(LF): What’s going to surprise people about this show?

(AC): There’s a few cool twists and turns in the script. But I hate spoilers, so I’ll shut up now. I ain’t no rat.

(LF): If you could play any other character in this show, who would it be? 

(AC): Again, I can’t see anyone else except our cast playing these characters, so I’ll re-cast myself as the looming off-stage presence of Langford Pangborn. Or the Maitre D at Santinos. Or the horse (Front-end). 

The post Meet the Cast of A Pack of Thieves | Allan Cooke as Dale appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

Lighthouse Festival (LF): What do you enjoy doing when you’re not on the stage? 

Brad Austin (BA): I’d be lying if I said anything other than golf. Boring I know, but there it is. It’s the hardest, most frustrating, game I’ve ever played and I love it.

(LF): Besides yourself, which celebrity would you like to see tackle this role?

(BA): Sam Rockwell. Hands down.

(LF): What’s going to surprise people about this show?

(BA): But that would ruin the surprise! 

(LF): What sort of person is going to love this show?

(BA): There are three types of people who will love this show. People who love to laugh, people who like to have a good time, and people who want to stick it to their insurance company!

(LF): Who has the best costume?

(BA): It’s a toss up between the Twins and Rubber. Both are inspired and hilarious. 

The post Meet the Cast of A Pack of Thieves | Brad Austin as Chip appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

We sat down with Canadian playwright legend Norm Foster to talk about his new play, A Pack of Thieves, making its world premiere on the Lighthouse stage on August 16th, 2023.

The post An Interview with Norm Foster appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

By Sharon Grose | Ontario Farmer Magazine

July 27, 2023

Lighthouse Festival Theatre’s summer production of Where You Are (by Kristen da Silva) opens with sisters Suzanne (Melanie Janzen) and Glenda (Susan Henley) sitting on their front porch on Manitoulin Island. Suzanne is bemoaning the fact that she doesn’t need a rooster to be her alarm clock. Glenda can get up at the crack of dawn with the rooster and chickens if she wants but Suzanne would just as soon sleep in until noon. Glenda just returned from church and Suzanne itching to find out the all the town gossip- why else does one go to church in a small town?

Sisters Glenda and Suzanne live a quiet retirement lifestyle selling homemade jam and hawthorn berry jelly on Manitoulin Island. This summer, their focusing on trying to orchestrate sightings of their handsome veterinarian neighbour and prepping for the visit of Suzanne’s grown daughter, Beth (Caroline Toal). But the things are complicated by a secret the sisters can no longer contain. Glenda and Suzanne apparently aren’t the only ones keeping secrets. When Beth lands on the island and admits to having some secrets of her own the three women realize it’s time to face things that will change the course of their lives. Secrets can no longer be secrets.

Suzanne and Glenda are totally devoted to each other and manage to share a house despite their different lifestyles. Suzanne raised her daughter – single handedly but continues to struggle to find the balance between mothering and smothering her daughter. Beth and Suzanne constantly clash. Suzanne is judgmental and critical of everything Beth does. They have a strained mother- daughter relationship. Glenda widowed, is a doting beloved Aunt to Beth and tries to keep the peace between mother and daughter which is not an easy task.

Then there is the cute guy who lives next door – the young veterinarian named Patrick (Gaelan Beatty) who is still getting over being left at the alter by his fiancé. There are some interesting connections between Beth and Patrick due to common denominators – both are rebounding from a recent break up, both are doctors – although one treats people while the other treats animals. Their various roles in the medical field make for some humorous moments. Will something develop between Beth and Patrick- only time will tell. If the two sisters have anything to say about it – definitely yes. But the two women have more things to deal with than budding relationships. Suzanne and Glenda start experimenting with weed – for medicinal purposes. The two are higher than a kite when they are discovered by Beth. Some candid discussions about life, love and mortality follow.

There is an interesting mix of funny and somber moments in this play. Simple lessons in life that gets you to thinking about appreciating people and the importance of family and community.

You won’t want to miss seeing this Canadian play at Lighthouse Festival Theatre. It is on n stage in Port Dover at Festival Theatre until Aug 5th and then on stage at Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne from August 9th to August 20th.

Lighthouse Festival Theatre company was formed in 2022 bringing Port Dover’s Old Town Hall theatre and Port Colborne Roselawn theatre together as one theatre family.

Ontario Farmer readers can also attend two other Lighthouse Festival productions A Pack of Thieves by Norm Foster (Aug 16-Sept 2nd at Port Dover, or Sept 6-Sept 17 at Port Colborne, and Opry Gold with The Wayward Wind Band (Sept 5th-Sept 16 in Port Dover, Sept 20-Sept 24 in Port Colborne).

Tickets any of the show can be ordered by calling Lighthouse Festival Box Office 1-888-779-7703 or online https://lighthousetheatre.com/tickets/

The post Review: Where You Are on stage at Lighthouse Festival appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

By Mike Renzella | The Haldimand Press

July 27, 2023

PORT DOVER—2023 has been a year of great, emotional comedy at Lighthouse Theatre and Where You Are – the newest show to hit their Port Dover stage – is no exception, bringing another heaping serving of the laughs and pathos that are the bread and butter of Lighthouse’s ever-popular summer series.

Directed by Jane Spence from a script by Kristen Da Silva, Where You Are tells the story of Glenda and Suzanne, two aging sisters who live together and sell homemade jam out of their small home on Manitoulin Island. When Suzanne’s daughter Beth comes home for a summer visit, secrets are revealed, relationships are put to the test, and life-changing decisions are made.

The play stars Susan Henley as Glenda, Melanie Janzen as Suzanne, Caroline Toal as Beth, and Gaelan Beatty as their good-natured neighbour Patrick.

Janzen and Henley make for a great comic duo in the show, gamely throwing one-liners at each other throughout, and believably selling the play’s more dramatic moments, the most touching of which revolve around their long-lasting, genuine friendship.

Toal imbues her character Beth with a believable vulnerability, proving a great foil to Janzen and Henley’s comedic exploits. While her character may be a bit hard-headed at times, it’s clear that Beth deeply loves her mom and aunt, and the childhood home she has returned to.

As the neighbour Patrick, Beatty brings the charm, making a great straight man to the comedy flying around on stage and displaying a natural chemistry with Toal as the two character’s stories begin to entwine over the course of the show.

Director Spence stages the show lightly, making the best of a witty script and more-than-capable performers. She described what drew her to the show, “It shares a powerful message about the difficulties that arise when secrets are kept, even with the best intentions. It explores what it means to love unconditionally, examining the struggles we sometimes face to give our loved ones the room to live life on their own terms, especially when their choices may differ from the ones we would make for them.”

Where You Are marks Spence’s fifth show for Lighthouse, also taking on this year’s On The Air earlier in the season. 

Writer Da Silva is also no stranger to the Lighthouse stage, having also written Sugar Road, Beyond the Sea, and Hurry Hard, and appearing as an actor as well. Her shows have been mounted at several venues around Ontario, and for good reason; Da Silva’s shows are guaranteed to be two things: hilarious and sincere. 

Where You Are is playing at Port Dover’s Lighthouse Theatre until August 5. It then moves Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre from August 9-20.

For more information, visit lighthousetheatre.com, where you can find information on showtimes for this show and the remainder of Lighthouse’s 2023 summer season. 

Up next at the theatre is the Young Company production of Robin Hood, which is running from August 9-12, followed by the World Premiere of Norm Foster’s latest show, A Pack of Thieves, and the season topper, Opry Gold.

The post Review: Lighthouse Theatre’s winning streak continues with Where You Are appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

By Donna McMillan | Port Dover Maple Leaf

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

KRISTEN Da Silva’s “Where You Are” lights up the stage at Lighthouse Theatre.  Its opening night audience last Thursday was captivated by a touchingly funny story of family, love lost and found, secrets, pathos and the lives of uniquely lovable characters. The fast-moving play is peppered with witty one-liners and many laugh out loud moments.

Jane Spence, no stranger to Lighthouse, directed this well-written script. I saw the play twice in less than a week and laughed and embraced it as much the second time around as the first!
Suzanne, a single mom, moved into her sister Glenda and her late husband Mark’s home in Little Current on Manitoulin Island when she was pregnant with her daughter Beth more than 30 years ago. She chooses to sleep in long past the family rooster’s crowing time and has a sharp tongue that can be both critically biting and hilarious at the same time. 
Glenda is the rock in the family who keeps relationships glued together, but is not above enjoying all the local gossip. She industriously makes jam to sell to neighbours. And, it just so happens, one of those next door neighbours is the very handsome new vet, Patrick, who is kept busy inseminating cows and reluctantly fixing the roof of the two women’s shed. 
Beth has gone away to school and now works as a doctor in Toronto; a real doctor as opposed to a veterinarian, as Suzanne is quick to say when Patrick and Beth first meet. 

A few sparks start to fly. The performance of all four actors was exceptional in their distinctive roles and much deserved of the audience’s standing ovation. 

The action takes place on a beautifully constructed front porch of an island home, created by Set Designer Beckie Morris. The lighting, designed by Chris Malkowski, cleverly showed the passing of time from dawn to mid-day sun to dusk. 
Suzanne is an eccentric character with some of the best bold, tell-it-like-it-is sarcastic lines that can be shocking and/or cringeworthy to her family.

Melanie Janzen is hilarious in this role as she points out how well Patrick can knock up a cow, how both Patrick and Beth are in need of rebound sex and how much she dislikes that noisy morning bird with the hairdo. Melanie has over 100 stage credits to her name and toured with Show Boat. Here in Port Dover, audiences have laughed at her performances in three past plays. Good to see her back. 

Glenda is the family sage, lecturing Suzanne on her brashness and reminding her that she can’t ask nosy questions like ‘who you are sleeping with?’ as soon as she greets Beth. Contrarily, she names all her chickens after people she doesn’t like to make it easier to kill them for dinner!! She takes many humorous shots at her sister, particularly her string of comments about Suzanne’s early morning appearance; everything from “you look like you have rabies” to “you look like Uncle Leonard when struck by lightning on Halloween.” She has an emotional, heartbreaking secret she is reluctant to share. Susan Henley plays Glenda. She is also a well- known Lighthouse veteran, has performed from Stratford to PEI and was in the Toronto staging and U.S. touring of Hairspray. 

Patrick, the buff new veterinarian, is performed pricelessly by Gaelan Beatty who is making his debut on the local stage. He has acted elsewhere in a number of shows from Grease to Mary Poppins. During his early drop-ins to the porch to buy jam and eat pound cake, Patrick laments eating his $900 wedding cake bit by bit after being jilted “nearly at the altar”; not to mention the awkwardness of having to take his Border Collie to the wedding of his ex-fiancée with whom he shares custody. He has numerous sidesplitting moments such as being tongue tied when he catches Beth wearing a very skimpy dress as his plus one date for the wedding and “doctoring” her when she twists an ankle. If it doesn’t heal, he “might have to put her down.” 

Caroline Toal, also an LFT veteran and winner of two Dora Mavor Moore awards for her work elsewhere, was a joy to watch as she coped with her mom’s antics, delved into her Aunt Glenda’s secrets, watched the two sisters get high on medicinal (maybe?) cannabis and meets Patrick after her own relationship fizzles. She switches demeanor skillfully from the riotous young woman colliding with an ice sculpture on the wedding date to a doctor full of heartwarming empathy for her aunt’s health news.

Kudos to those in the Creative Team not mentioned to date: Alex Amini was costume designer; Meghan Speakman, stage manager; Ben Tuck, assistant stage manager.

“Where You Are” is on stage at Lighthouse Theatre until August 5. Don’t miss out! Tickets can be purchased at the Main Street Box Office, by visiting lighthousetheatre.com or calling 519-583-2221.

The post Review: Lighthouse season has another winner with Where You Are appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.

By Reformer Staff | Simcoe Reformer

Monday, July 24, 2023

Two jam-making sisters on Manitoulin Island, keen on setting up one of their daughters with the local handsome veterinarian, have secrets that are about to come to light.

Welcome to Lighthouse Festival’s production of Kristen Da Silva’s Where You Are, on stage until Aug. 5 in Port Dover and to Aug. 20 in Port Colborne.

“Over the course of my life, I have found my personal circle has gotten smaller, even as my number of acquaintances has grown, an experience I believe is fairly universal,” said playwright Da Silva.

“In the part of life when the chips start to fall – children, marriages, jobs gained and lost, professional triumphs and professional disappointments, illness, health, faces in and faces out – we discover who our people really are. This is a play about people like that.”

At its core, said director Jane Spence, Where You Are is about relationships, both existing and potential.

“It shares a powerful message about the difficulties that arise when secrets are kept, even with the best intentions. It explores what it means to love unconditionally, examining the struggles we sometimes face to give our loved ones the room to live life on their own terms, especially when their choices may differ from the ones we would make for them.”

In the play, sisters Glenda and Suzanne live a quiet retirement selling homemade jam. This summer their usual concerns – trying to orchestrate sightings of their handsome neighbour and preparing for the visit of Suzanne’s grown daughter, Beth – are complicated by a secret the sisters can no longer contain.

When Beth arrives with some secrets of her own, the three women face things that will change their lives forever.

The cast includes Susan Henley as Glenda, Melanie Janzen as Suzanne, Gaelan Beatty as Patrick and Caroline Toal as Beth.

Visit lighthousetheatre.com for tickets and more information.

The post Wanna know a secret? Where You Are has plenty! appeared first on Lighthouse Festival.