A SCANDAL FOR ALL SEASONS
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Production Manager: Santana Hamilton
Stage Manager: Khaleel Gandhi
Assistant Stage Manager: Lesley Coo
Technical Director: Julia Beaulieu
Set Design: Echo Zhou
Lighting Design: Za Hughes
Composition and Sound Design: Joshua Doerksen
Set Dressing and Props Master: Brenda Thompson
Costume Designer: Sandra Roberts
Set Builder: Diane Frederick
Production Photography: Jennifer Klementti
Poster Design: Rhubarb Media
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Augusta Peacock: Lynn Weintraub
Doris Lester: Elana Post
Biff Worthington: Jonathon LeRose
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It was in 2019 that Burke first submitted this play to me for consideration. After I agreed to produce it, I mentioned specifically that we would have to produce it in 2022. “Why 2022?” Burke asked, “I might be dead by then!” I explained that 2022 was a municipal election year, and I suspected it would be a messy one. A farce, in the world of municipal politics, staged within weeks of the election, was just too juicy and perfect and had to be seized upon.
Over the following years, I had the privilege to work with Burke on refining and enhancing the script. I have deeply appreciated his confidence in me, his flexibility, and his willingness to fill the script with ‘Barrie-isms. As the Artistic Director of a theatre ‘company that produces almost exclusively new work, having such a collaborative and supportive playwright was a gift.
I also want to thank my amazing team. Trying to make theatre during the best of times is a challenge. Trying to make theatre during a volatile time in a pandemic is something entirely different. To the actors, the production team, to the volunteers and billets, and to Erica and the wonderful people at Theatre Collingwood, thank you.
Finally, I want to thank my amazing wife, Marissa, for all of her patience, generosity, and understanding over the course of the last few, well, years.
I hope you enjoy A Scandal For All Seasons. After so much darkness over the last few years, it has been great to direct a play that is funny, different, and addresses real things with a large dose of insanity.
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This production was a big one for me. It was my first time directing a farce, my first time directing at the Five Points Theatre, my first time directing a touring show, and directing a script that I had a big hand in the development of for more than two years.
Burke Campbell is quite the playwright. I remember being introduced to his work many years ago and I was impressed with the way he handled racy (sometimes outright explicit) themes/scenarios, while also writing compelling female characters, with the vocabulary of an unhinged Oscar Wilde. In fact, I have read approximately 20 of his plays and I have always been impressed with Burke’s desire to tell stories that were daring, unique, and had a strong commercial edge.
Performances ran in Collingwood for a week and then moved to Barrie. It was fascinating to see what comedy didn’t land in Collingwood but did in Barrie. There were definitely some times where I had to say to the cast “trust me, it will work in Barrie”. Of course, I was right.
An important element with this project was that there were many people on my team that were absolutely amazing. Despite all the special kind of chaos we went through to make this show happen, they were continually solid. I am truly grateful to them (and they know who they are).
