Parrsboro lands Lillford’s Fishing for Frank
Theriault, Mackey works also on Ship’s Company’s playlist
by ELISSA BARNARD, Arts Reporter, HeraldA new play by Nova Scotian writer Daniel Lillford opens Ship’s Company Theatre’s 2010 season in Parrsboro this summer.
Fishing for Frank will receive its world premiere on the theatre’s mainstage June 30 through July 25. The comedy about life, love and trout is directed by Linda Moore, former artistic director of Neptune Theatre, and starring Deborah Allen, Lee J. Campbell, Michael Chiasson, and Mary Vingoe. Lillford’s past shows have included Snow Dance (2008), The Mystery of Maddy Heisler (2006), which went on to Centaur Theatre in Montreal, and Apple Tree Road (1999).
The Net, a modern thriller about a wealthy crab-fishing family on the brink, by New Brunswick playwright Marcel-Romain Theriault, will be staged for the first time in English in Atlantic Canada Aug. 4 through 29. Directed by Ship’s Company Theatre’s new artistic producer Matthew Tiffin, it will feature Michael Chiasson, Wally MacKinnon, and a young male actor, to be announced.
Jake’s Gift, Julie Mackey’s award-winning, one-woman show about the relationship between an innocent 10-year old French girl and a crusty, world-weary Canadian veteran returning to Juno Beach, will play to public and school audiences in September in connection with the centenary of the Canadian Navy this year.
Marshall Button brings his charismatic character of Lucien, New Brunswick’s blue-collar philosopher, to life on the theatre’s Second Stage July 28, 29 and 30.
The Monday Night Concert Series showcasing Atlantic Canadian artists features: gospel/pop singer and songwriter Chelsea Nisbett on July 12, the Calysto Steel Band on July 19, fiddler Colin Grant and musical friends on July 26, and Lone Cloud, the brainchild of Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy, and a band combining native rhythms, pop, rock and jazz, on Aug. 9.
Also in the series are Beatlemaniac Hal Bruce returning on Aug. 16, honky-tonk artists Ryan Cook and Sunny Acres on Aug. 23 and Garrett Mason and his funk and blues band on Sept. 5.
The Kids’ Stage presents The Bremen Town Musicians, performed by Truro’s Maritime Marionettes, on June 5.
The Mainstage Special Event in September is Take Me Home — a Musical Tribute to John Denver, orchestrated by Ship’s associate, Greg Simm, for three performances: Sept. 24 and 25 with a matinee on Sept. 26.
The theatre’s 2010 Reading Series will include readings by playwrights Lillford, Theriault and playwright- screenwriter Josh MacDonald.
Drama day camps for youth in three age groups will take place during the month of August.
Next up on the Ship’s Company agenda is the annual Fiddle Camp, on the long weekend of May 21, 22 and 23 in Parrsboro. Master fiddler and educator Gordon Stobbe will lead, with professional musicians and instructors: fiddlers Kelli Trottier, Kendra MacGillivray, and Timi Levy, Geoff Horrocks on piano and Skip Holmes and Greg Simm on mandolin and guitar accompaniment. Visit www.shipscompany.com to download a printable registration form.
