It might be A Bad Year for Tomatoes, but the cast and crew of that play are hoping it is a good time for comedy at the Harriston Town Hall Theatre this fall.
The Grey Wellington Theatre Guild is staging playwright John Patrick’s comedy about a famous actress who finds her plans to quietly pen her memoirs at a small town retreat derailed by a zany cast of eccentric townsfolk.
Set in the 1970s in the tiny New England hamlet of Beaver Haven, the comedy centres on the main character’s off-the-wall plan to scare off nutty neighbours, who become increasingly suspicious of her efforts.
Director Peggy Raftis said the cast is a blend of seasoned performers and enthusiastic newcomers, who have meshed to create a great show.
“I’m very excited to have five actors who are new to the guild in this production. A play like this, with so many well-defined characters provides a great opportunity for character development,” she said.
Caroline Wollis of Mount Forest plays the solitude-seeking actress. Wollis is no stranger to the stage, having performed in numerous GWTG productions, including The Cemetery Club and Belles. Bob Harron of Harriston was last seen on the local stage playing multiple roles in Annie. Also the producer of the show, Harron plays a small-town sheriff who gets dragged into investigating the antics.
The rest of the cast, while new to the guild, have varying degrees of performance experience.
Brian Campbell plays a smooth-talking show biz agent, while James Brooking is a backwoods mountain man with attitude.
Sherrie Campbell is Willa’ an aging hippie with strange spiritual beliefs. All three are Mount Forest residents.
Brooke Bartley of Harriston plays a character everyone knows.
At your school, she’d be “the leader of the mean girls,” said Raftis. Rachel Weed, also of Harriston, plays her ditzy friend.
The mayhem comes together in what Raftis describes as, “a very funny play.”
A Bad Year for Tomatoes, runs Nov. 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7:30pm and Nov. 6 and 13 at 2pm Tickets are $15 and available by calling 519 338-2778, or order by e-mail at ticketsgwtg@wightman.ca Tickets are also available at Harriston Home Hardware and Shoppers Drug Mart in Mount Forest. For more information go to www.guelpharts.org/gwtg/.
