The Port Stanley Festival Theatre kicked off its summer season with opening night of the rollicking Back in ’59 and some special news. The Board of Directors of the theatre was pleased to announce the receipt of gifts totaling $293,000 for the Theatre’s ‘Expand the Experience’ Capital Campaign.
 
The intimacy of the venue is one of the main draws of Port’s Theatre by the Lake. However, it is often filled to capacity, and it was time to give a little more room for the creative ideas which are in abundant supply there. “We need to help ‘Expand the Experience’, building it bigger and better,” said Art Director Simon Joynes.

Hawksley Workman came to St. Thomas on Saturday evening to wow and charm a sold-out audience at the Princess Ave Playhouse.  It’s a bit hard to describe Hawksley performing his unique brand of rock. What comes to mind is an elastic band with pop, zing and stretch afforded by his stage presence and incredible range of intellectual, musical and vocal talent.

The six times nominated, two-time Juno award winner has performed in over fifteen countries in prestigious and more intimate venues, and has produced albums for such stars as Tegan and Sara, Serena Ryder, Great Big Sea, Sarah Slean and Jeremy Fisher.

A true entertainer, on Saturday evening Hawksley shared his music, humour and insights and seemed to create for an appreciative audience, the feeling that he was here, not just to stop by, but to be part of our town for a few hours.

By Pete Sheridan

Photos by Claudia Hepburn

The energy and dynamic of live actors playing for a live audience makes for an experience unique from that of movies or television. Whether professional or community, what shines through at most performances is that the actors, director and all those behind the scenes are dedicated to giving the audience a memorable theatre experience.
    
Relish Elgin chatted recently with a local actor, Marina Silic and actor/director, Rob Faust. Both worked on “Heart’s Desire” with the Elgin Theatre Guild in March. They offered some insights into their experience with community theatre from behind the stage lights.

Performances by any one of Dave Gunning, Suzie Vinnick or Ennis (sisters Maureen and Karen) would be capable of filling the Princess Ave Playhouse in St. Thomas with a whole lot of great music. Bringing the three acclaimed, award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter entities to one stage was sure to create an expectation of musical excellence - their show this past Sunday afternoon didn't disappoint. 

Award Photos by Mark Girdauskas

The first annual awards presentation by the ACO St. Thomas-Elgin Branch recognized examples of heritage preservation and those who worked to make them happen, and at the same time provided a virtual tour of the buildings which are located across Elgin County. The presentations took place on April 16th at the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre.
 
The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario has been around since 1933. The local branch started in 2009, in response to the loss of Alma College through a spiraling process of neglect. Their focus is education and advocacy related to preservation of built heritage.

Dennis Kalichuk brought “Love, Lust & Laughter” and an intriguing selection of his stories in song to the Princess Ave Playhouse stage in St. Thomas this past Saturday evening.

Dennis is a fine storyteller whose subjects range from breaking up to bullying, St. Thomas, competition, joy and, as he noted at the beginning of the concert, love and lust. His lyrics are poetic but direct – he expresses his thoughts in an imaginative and sincere manner. Throughout the evening Dennis shared insights into the sources of his music – from the street as he gazes daydreaming out his window, to childhood experiences, and even encounters on his mail route – many have a St. Thomas flavour.

Photos by Mark Girdauskas

Media was invited for the first time this past Friday to climb inside Ojibwa, tour the massive submarine from bow to stern, and take photos to share with the public. Photos, however, were permitted only in the first two sections of the sub – the Ojibwa Project team has learned that this is a big story and they plan to reveal it in playfully titillating bits.

Those on hand for the tour were enthusiastic and full of questions. The answers to those questions, other details supplied by the team, and most importantly the star herself, Ojibwa, revealed that this project encompasses the drama, intrigue and excitement of a plot within a plot within a plot.  It’s a show that’s sure to be a blockbuster hit for Port Burwell and region.

With their production of Love Letters over the past weekend, the West Elgin Dramatic Society brought to the stage a Pulitzer nominated play and two of the actors who were founding members of WEDS, Barry and Monica Snow.  

Love Letters by A.R. Gurney is, perhaps, not truly a play – the two characters, Andy and Melissa, are seated for the entire performance at their separated desks, and read the letters, cards and notes that have made up their correspondence to each other starting from grade two and continuing on for the next fifty years. Though the action is completely static, the letters reveal two lifetimes – the joys, disappointments, sorrows, triumphs and failings – connected over the years almost entirely through the written word.

There’s a wonderland in Port Stanley again this year. Thousands have seen it, many making repeat visits. For a first-timer, the 291 Selbourne Drive Port Stanley Christmas Lights are truly oooohhh-inspiring. You may find your mouth dropping open as you enter the back yard, and then perhaps you will be able to settle into a smiling sense of wonder.