The Fergus Rotary Club presents Skips and Scoundrels: the more-or-less true story of curling and rebellion in Fergus.
This original comedy, written and directed by Glenn McGinnis, runs Sept. 22 to 24 at the Fergus Grand Theatre, with two shows on Saturday – a matinee at 2pm and an evening show at 7pm.
Skips and Scoundrels explores the earliest year of Fergus history – 1834, when the town had only two houses and a tavern.
Black’s Tavern is the set for the majority of the production.
“It was an exciting time when men drank, farmed and curled,” organizers stated in a press release. “A time when women raised kids, and nagged their husbands every chance they got.”
Curling, in fact, became one of the focal points of their lives – even though the first curling rink was on St. Andrews Street.
“The first curling club was an extremely serious affair, complete with secret passwords, secret hand-shakes, and a ‘swear jar’ for curlers who forgot to watch their language,” organizers stated.
However, the pioneers of Fergus turned their attention to more serious matters, when, in 1837, some of the farmers of Upper Canada joined a rebellion to attack the capital of Toronto.
Angered by high interest rates and bad roads, and led by journalist William Lyon Mackenzie, these farmers invaded Toronto with pitch-forks and shovels.
The citizens of Fergus put their curling efforts on hold to join a rebellion – the first civil war in Canadian history. Tickets for Skips and Scoundrels can be purchased for $25 at fergusgrandtheatre.ca or by calling 519-787-1981.
Proceeds from the production will be going to community programs.
