HALIFAX, NS – Eastern Front Theatre’s 17th Season continues with the presentation of Frankie Productions’ Lauchie, Liza & Rory, adapted from his own short story by famed Cape Breton writer Sheldon Currie. The play previews April 6, opens April 7 and runs until April 18 at the Bus Stop Theatre.
“We are delighted to present one of Nova Scotia’s funniest and most beloved comedic plays of all time.” said Artistic Producer Scott Burke, “Lauchie, Liza & Rory has an excellent track record as a crowd pleaser that serves up a genuine slice of Cape Breton life. Wherever the show has been performed it tickles the funny bone and touches the heart.”
Lauchie, Liza & Rory premiered in 2003 at Mulgrave Road Theatre, toured Nova Scotia and enjoyed a brief run at Eastern Front’s SuperNova Theatre Festival. In 2004 the play was presented at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in Edmonton and toured New Zealand in 2005. Lauchie, Liza & Rory received the 2004 Merritt Award for Best New Play. Frankie Productions’ current tour has taken them to Whitehorse, Edmonton, Toronto’s Summerworks Festival, and the Celtic Colours Festival.
The Story: Coal miner Lauchie Macdonald lives a humdrum existence but his world turns upside down when the vivacious Liza dances into his life. The awkward courtship is sealed with a big win at bingo, until Lauchie’s daredevil twin brother, Rory, bursts onto the scene. Two actors bring a whole town of characters to vivid life, and a real story begins… a wry spinster, sonorous priest, reformed party girl, and cantankerous Cape Breton matriarch, are all witnesses to a twenty-year interrupted love story.
Eastern Front Theatre’s presentation of Lauchie, Liza & Rory features the stellar acting talents of Christian Murray and Natasha MacLellan, a live musical score provided by fiddler Mairi Rankin, and is ingeniously directed by Mary-Colin Chisholm.
Christian Murray is an acclaimed actor, writer and director based in Halifax and a founding member of Jest in Time Theatre. Jest highlights include a Japanese tour, three national CBC specials and performances at the Sydney Opera House. He recently performed in Artistic Fraud’s production of AfterImage at Harbourfront Toronto’s World Stage Series. Christian has appeared numerous times on the Neptune stage and on stages throughout Canada. He received a Gemini Award for his writing on 22 Minutes, and in 2006 was short listed for the CBC Literary Awards for his short story Frost.
Natasha MacLellan works as an actor, writer, producer and director. In these capacities she has spent time with Mulgrave Road, Frankie Productions, Live Bait, Ship’s Company, OneLight and the Irondale Ensemble Project. She is a co-founder of Forerunner Playwrights Theatre and a long-time board member of Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre. In 2007 she was named the protégé of Jenny Munday, recipient of the Mallory Gilbert award for demonstrated leadership in the theatre community. Natasha is currently the Artist in Residence at Mulgrave Road Theatre.
Fiddler Mairi Rankin has performed as a solo artist, a sideman, and is a member of the Cape Breton Celtic super group Beolach. She has performed with the Rankin Sisters, Unusual Suspects and Bruce Guthro and has appeared on the television broadcasts of DRUM!, the East Coast Music Awards, Rita MacNeil’s Christmas special and MNE’s Togaidh Sinn Fonn in Scotland. Her international festival credits include Celtic Connections, Chicago Celtic Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, BLAS, Tonder Festival. In Canada she has performed at all the major folk and Celtic festivals including Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Dawson City Folk Festivals and the internationally renowned Celtic Colours Festival.
One of Nova Scotia’s finest theatre creators, Mary-Colin Chisholm recently appeared in Artistic Fraud’s AfterImage at Harbourfront Toronto’s World Stage Series. She also performed in Halifax Theatre for Young People’s inaugural production of The Gravesavers. He’d Be Your Mother’s Father’s Cousin was a major hit at Eastern Front Theatre’s 2009 SuperNova Theatre Festival. Mary-Colin has had continuing roles in the CBC television series Black Harbour, Pit Pony and Made in Canada. She is a co-founder of LunaSea Theatre and Frankie Productions.
Sheldon Currie was born in Reserve Mines, Cape Breton, and often draws from the mining experience in his writing. His novel, The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum, was adapted for film under the title Margaret’s Museum, which won international accolades, and was also the basis of a CBC radio and stage play by Wendy Lill. His book The Company Store has been adapted for stage, as well as Anna’s Story a chapter from his novel The Coal Town Road. After a short spell in the RCAF and several jobs, Sheldon attended the University College of Cape Breton and St. Francis Xavier University. He did post-graduate work at the University of New Brunswick and the University of Alabama before starting to teach in high schools, and subsequently at St. Francis Xavier University.
The Artistic Team for Lauchie, Liza & Rory consists of Set Designer Stephen Osler, Lighting Designer Leigh Ann Vardy, and Stage Manager Louisa Adamson.
Sponsored by O’Regan’s Automotive Group, Lauchie, Liza & Rory runs April 6 to18 at the Bus Stop Theatre, 2203 Gottingen Street. Evening performances begin at 8:00 p.m. and matinee performances begin at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available now by calling 463-PLAY, or online at www.easternfronttheatre.com or at the door one hour before show time.
Eastern Front Theatre, now in its 17th Season, explores and celebrates the Atlantic Canadian experience through the development, production and promotion of Atlantic Canadian theatre artists. Eastern Front produces two Mainstage plays, the SuperNova Theatre Festival, administers the Ten Minute Play Contest for Nova Scotia High School students and holds three fundraising events annually.
Eastern Front Theatre is generously funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Province of Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Department of Canadian Heritage, and Halifax Regional Municipality. O’Regan’s Automotive Group is the 2009-2010 Season Sponsor.
Extinction Song previewed to a standing ovation on Sunday November 15th and we can’t wait for opening night on Tuesday the 17th. Opening night is sold out but there are still tickets available for most shows in the run. The run is shorter than past productions and seating at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is limited, so we hope you’ll book your tickets early.
