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GORE BAY—Gore Bay Theatre will be opening its summer season next week with two exciting plays, ‘Outside Mullingar,’ a romantic comedy by John Patrick Shanley and ‘Waiting for the Parade,’ a Canadian classic by John Murrell.

‘Waiting for the Parade’ deals with the way five women of Canada coped and survived with the pressures of World War Two. It is comprised of scenes, monologues and songs of the time. The women laugh, sing, dance and share their stories of courage and loneliness as they wait for the war to end. It is Canadian history come to life in poignant and powerful testimonials. 

The Edmonton Journal said, “the tragedy of war is there, but also, a lot of humour and comradeship. “We lasted, we made it,’’ the women cry as the armistice is announced. And that is the important story—how the women of Canada kept the home fires burning.

It has been performed internationally to great acclaim, and considering it is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), it is a timely and important reminder of Canada’s proud history of participation and sacrifice. 

The play features very strong performances by Susan Garlock, Thersa Phiri, Tammy Robinson, Meghan Woods and Renee Zilio, said co-director Walter Maskel.

‘Outside Mullingar’ is a romantic comedy about four eccentric Irish characters who have lived beside each other for 40 years and their ongoing feud, as they struggle toward solid ground and some kind of happiness.

It has received stellar reviews including a Broadway Tony Award nomination for Best Play.

Variety said “John Patrick Shanley has not written a more beautiful or loving play.” 

The New York Daily News added, ‘Outside Mullingar’ is a valentine to the wonder and weirdness of love,” and Concord Theatricals said, “The play, a romantic comedy, is funny as hell, heartbreaking and ultimately deeply moving about how it is never too late to take a chance on love.” 

The play features four outstanding performances by Tara Bernatchez, Helen Landry, Ray Landry, and John Robertson, said co-director Andrea Emmerton.

The co-directors are very excited about the plays. Ms. Emmerton said, “we are very fortunate to have two very entertaining and poignant evenings of theatre with nine actors who are dedicated to the art of theatre and their performances are indicative of that commitment.”

Mr. Maskel added, “this is my twenty-first year with Gore Bay Theatre and am very proud that this is one of our strongest seasons with wonderful plays, wonderful actors, with the wonder of live theatre.”

Gore Bay Theatre should be proud of their record of accomplishments. In the past 20 years the group has won more awards in festival competitions that any other community theatre in the province. They continue to produce two plays each summer and perform them in repertory so that tourists can see two plays on consecutive days, an accomplishment only achieved by professional groups like Stratford. And they have produced a wide variety of plays, including comedies, dramas, thrillers, musicals, dinner theatre and children’s theatre.

Gore Bay Theatre is also offering a dinner theatre performance for each play hosted by the Gore Bay Rotary Club with the theatre group donating a portion of its ticket revenue to the Rotarians as well as offering a special matinee performance of ‘Waiting for the Parade’ for Legion members and family with discount ticket prices to celebrate their 100th anniversary. 

Information about show times, ticket prices and dinner theatre is included in the advertisement in this week’s edition of The Manitoulin Expositor.