Stage Door News
Stage Door News
May 26, 2016, Blyth, Ontario... The Blyth Festival opens its 42nd season with Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning, a riveting new play by Christopher Morris, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Gil Garratt. This powerful true life drama runs from June 15 to August 6 in Blyth's Memorial Hall. Reserve your seats by calling the Box Office at 519.523.9300, Toll Free 1.877.862.5984 or online at blythfestival.com.
Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning is based on the true story of a local family, the Dinning's of Wingham (just ten minutes from Blyth). Their eldest son, Matthew, was a dynamic, funny, and charming young man, adored by the community. Matthew's first posting with the Canadian Forces was at Petawawa in May 2004, as a member of the Military Police. In April of 2006, at 23 years young, Cpl Matthew Dinning was killed in Gumbad province, Afghanistan.
A year later, his younger brother, and the Dinning's only other child, Brendon, volunteered for active service in Afghanistan. The Canadian Forces called his parents and asked them how to proceed. Should they grant his request, knowing the sacrifice this family had already made for their country? Should they reject it? How do a loving mom and dad make a decision like this? This is a play about the bonds of family, the search for bravery, and the always complicated paths to manhood, motherhood, and peace. This powerful play was written after extensive interviews with the Dinning's themselves, who opened their home and their hearts to the playwright throughout the creation of this singular piece.
This is a prime example of what Blyth does best: telling powerful local stories, and putting relevant, original Canadian plays onstage.
Returning to the Blyth stage in Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning are Festival favourites J. D. Nicholsen as Lincoln Dinning (St. Anne's Reel, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Dear Johnny Deere, Death of the Hired Man, Barndance Live) and Rebecca Auerbach As Laurie Dinning (Stag and Doe, Kitchen Radio, Dear Johnny Deere, Reverend Jonah, The Ballad of Stompin' Tom); Clinton native Cameron Laurie (Falling: A Wake) as Brendon Dinning; they are supported by Tony Munch (Falling: A Wake, Beyond The Farm Show, The Devil You Know, Rope's End, Hometown) and Catherine Fitch (Falling: A Wake, Pearl Gidley, The Nuttalls, The Mail Order Bride, Courting Johanna).
Blyth welcomes newcomers Jesse LaVercombe as Matthew Dinning and Meghan Chalmers as Sarah. Mr. LaVercombe is a Toronto-based actor and writer whose stage credits include The Bakkhai at the Marigny Opera House, New Orleans, the Canadian Tour of Mistatim, and Hacked for Caravan Stage Company, including the U.S. Tour. Ms. Chlamers is a graduate of the Theatre Performance program at Humber College where she was the recipient of a Humber Theatre Performance Award, and is one half of comedy duo Two Juliets.
Playwright Christopher Morris' recent credits include The Road to Paradise for Human Cargo, Crow's Theatre, and Buddies in Bad Times; Dust for Alberta Theatre Projects; and Night for Human Cargo and the National Arts Centre as well as national and international tours. He is currently writing The Runner, a play being developed and set in Israel and is also creating a play with Chinese playwright Nan Zhang and the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre called The China Project. Dora Mavor Moore Award Nomination for Return: The Sarajevo Project. Christopher is also the Artistic Director of Human Cargo, a Toronto-based theatre company dedicated to the creation of theatre that explores the extremes of the human condition. As an actor, Mr. Morris was seen on the Blyth stage in Cruel Tears, Sometime Never, and Death of the Hired Man.
Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning is directed by Blyth Festival's Artistic Director, Gil Garratt. An artist with a long relationship to Blyth, 2016 will mark Gil's 16th season with the festival, and his second as artistic director. Gil's eclectic career has carried him coast to coast, and overseas, collaborating with companies all over Canada. Gil is the recipient of a Dora Mavor Moore award for Outstanding Performance, and has been nominated for a Robert Merritt award in Nova Scotia.
Designing the set and costumes for Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning is Gillian Gallow (Vimy, Pearl Gidley), long time festival favourite Rebecca Picherack is designing the lighting, and Verne Good is the sound designer. Kenneth MacKenzie is the Assistant Director, Crystal MacDonell is the Production Stage Manager and Christina Cicko is the Assistant Stage Manager.
Blyth Festival acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the 2015-2017 Season Sponsor Parkland Fuels/Sparlings Propane and Season Media Sponsor CTV.
Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning is generously sponsored by Foxton Fuels (Production Sponsor) and AM920 CKNX, Classic Rock, 107.1 The One (Media Sponsor).
AT A GLANCE
OUR BEAUTIFUL SONS: REMEMBERING MATTHEW DINNING | June 15 - August 6
Written by Christopher Morris
Directed by Gil Garratt
Assistant Director: Kenneth MacKenzie
TICKETS: $35 preferred | $31 regular | $15 youth | (Previews: $26 preferred | $22 regular | $15 youth)
BOX OFFICE: 519.523.9300 | Toll Free: 1.877.862.5984 | Online: www.blythfestival.com
DATES OF NOTE
June 15 - Preview (AM 920 CKNX Night) at 8pm
June 16 - Preview at 8pm
June 17 - Opening Night at 8pm (Preceded by Gala Dinner at 5:45pm)
July 7 - An informal question and answer "Talk Back" with cast members follows the 2pm matinee
August 6 - Closing performance at 8pm
COUNTRY SUPPERS
Friday's and Saturday's - Enjoy a home-cooked meal served at a local venue at 6pm.
Tickets are $19 each and may be booked by calling the Blyth Festival Box Office.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: #bfDinning
The Blyth Festival is a professional theatre that enriches the lives of its audience by producing and developing plays that give voice to both the region and the country. The theatre produces a repertory summer season of exclusively Canadian theatre, with an emphasis on new work. Blyth Centre for the Arts, including the Blyth Festival, was founded in 1975.
Photo: Cpl. Matthew Dinning.
2016-05-26
Blyth: "Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning" opens the Blyth Festival June 15