The 150th Anniversary may have passed, but Drayton Entertainment is keeping the party going with a brand new show that celebrates everything you know and love about the true north, strong and free.
With its winning combination of side-splitting humour, razor-sharp political satire, lively dancing, and memorable music, audiences will be laughing aloud and singing along with Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry, on stage from June 20 to July 8 at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Created as a showcase for the homespun charm of the irrepressible Neil Aitchison, this production is sure to leave audiences unapologetically uplifted and proud to be Canadian. It follows the success of previous productions including Canadian Loonie, Canadian Toonie, Sorry…I’m Canadian and Canadian Legends.
Aitchison is back as his beloved alter ego RCMP Constable Archibald F. Inkster, the jovial Mountie whose inimitable comic musings leave no political party, pop star or public figure unscathed. His good-natured, tongue-in-cheek delivery adds an extra zing to every clever quip, while also sincerely celebrating the joys of being Canadian.
In this new installment of the franchise, Constable Inkster is at Rideau Hall, overseeing a gala celebration to commemorate Canada’s 151st birthday – a country so special, the Mountie notes, it deserves to be celebrated each and every year. To that end, elegant festivities have been arranged featuring iconic musical selections from Canada’s song book, backed by some dazzling dancing, fantastic fiddling, soaring singing, and plenty of topical humour.
This original production is based on a concept by Lukas Mustakas, the 13-year-old son of artistic director and CEO Alex Mustakas. The young Mustakas wondered aloud to his dad why there was such hoopla over Canada’s sesquicentennial birthday.
“Why 150?” he mused. “Why not 151, 152 … we should be celebrating Canada every year?”
And thus the hilarious premise for Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry was born.
“Canada 151 is heartfelt and entertaining, while also giving audiences the chance to laugh at all our wonderful Canadian idiosyncrasies,” said Mustakas.
“We spend two hours poking fun at everything uniquely Canadian, and audiences can’t get enough. But they ultimately leave the theatre completely uplifted, taking tremendous pride in our great nation.”
David Rogers takes a step behind-the-scenes as the director. Joining Rogers is music director Jesse Grandmont, costume designer Jessica Pembleton and lighting designer Davida Tkach.
Constable Inkster is in good company with performers who dazzle with a plethora of talent including: Gerrad Everard, Laura Mae Nason, Kale Penny, Jesse Grandmont; sisters Devan and Paige Ballagh; newcomers Melanie Paiement and Jennifer Walls; and Frank Parks as the Mountie’s nerdy nephew Clifford F. Inkster.
Led by Grandmont on Fiddle, an all-star five-piece band will join these multi-talented performers: Steve Lavoie on Keys, Dee Killinger on Guitar, Bob Hewus on Bass and Howard Gaul on Drums.
Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry runs June 20 to July 8 at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the Drayton Festival Theatre, by calling the box office at 519-638-5555 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at www.draytonentertainment.com.
