CANADIAN CLASSIC COMING TO PRESCOTT AMPHITHEATRE

Blocked for the second season in a row from mounting its own productions, the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival has arranged with another theatre company to bring a show to the Prescott waterfront amphitheatre Aug. 18-22.

By David French, the play is Canadian classic Salt-Water Moon set in Newfoundland almost a century ago. With seasoned performers Luke Marty and Sarah Gibbons, the production directed by Helen Juvonen is from Guild Festival Theatre in Scarborough.

There’ll be six performances in all, including one matinee; tickets which go on sale this week will cost $30 for adults, $20 for students, and $15 for children, all plus HST and service fee.

“The prolonged pandemic with its ever-changing protocols and timing made it impossible for us to cast, rehearse and stage our own shows,” explained SLSF Artistic Director Richard Sheridan Willis. “The next best thing was to bring in a solid Canadian production to at least keep theatre alive in Prescott in 2021. In 2022, we’ll come back with a bang for our 20^th anniversary!”

Salt-Water Moon tells the story of two star-crossed lovers trying to reunite after a long separation. It definitely contains a Shakespearean undercurrent, Sheridan Willis observed.

“I can’t think of a better play to fill part of the gap between our own locally produced shows. It’ll also be a new experience both for SLSF staff and directors, and for our audience.”

Festival General Manager Ingrid Bjornson emphasized that all COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time of the Salt-Water Moon run will be implemented, including  distanced seating, masking where required, and sanitizing upon entering the theatre space.

“We’re determined to provide a safe and pleasant experience for theatregoers,” Bjornson said. “It helps that our exceptional venue is outside, eliminating much of the concern.”

Chair Jo-Anne Beckstead noted that when it became clear that the times were too uncertain about proceeding with two or even one Festival production, the best way forward was to investigate potential visiting shows. Salt-Water Moon seemed like the obvious choice.

“We liked the fact it’s Canadian and a story that will appeal to many of our patrons, as well as the rural Newfoundland setting, probably close to the water, which is much like our own.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca, email info@stlawrenceshakespeare.ca or call 613 925 9788