All about Maudie at King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal May 26-28
A weekend event will be held at the King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal from May 26 to 28 for Maudie, the movie celebrating Maud Lewis’ life and art.
Andi Rierden handles bookings for the Kings Theatre Society, which is a member of the Toronto International Film Festival film circuit.
She said the society has been tracking this movie for two years, and knew from day one it needed to be shown here. Having access to it through their TIFF membership, they booked a time and made it happen.
“We’ve been really eager to bring it to the theatre,” she said.
Not only will it be shown at the theatre, the showing has been made into a weekend event.
“This was absolutely imperative that we bring this film in and create a community event for this. It has two major stars in it – Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins – and you could not have cast a better Maud Lewis,” she said.
The event will include a May 26 Friday night screening at 7 p.m. and a May 28 Sunday afternoon screening at 2 p.m., both with discussions afterwards on the movie.
The society has partnered with Annapolis Royal gallery Arts Place, and will host a full-length forum-style discussion Saturday afternoon, May 27, featuring curators from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, where the Maud Lewis house is exhibited.
The event will also include Ken Maher who played Everett, Maud’s husband, in a CBC production on Lewis, and his perspective on Everett’s character, which can sometimes draw mixed criticism, said Rierden.
“We’re excited to meet all the people who come out for it. She’s touched people at all levels – people who’ve bought her art, people who’ve tried to emulate it, and people interested in her story,” she said.
The film is a Canadian Irish production produced by Mongrel Media and has already received Oscar buzz, according to Rierden, for good reason.
“These are difficult roles to take on, and the actors have done a beautiful job of representing these people,” she said.
“Maud Lewis’ paintings have depicted this area of Nova Scotia so well. When you see her cats or her houses or flowers or wallpapers, you automatically come home to where we are now,” she said.
Rierden looks forward to the discussion this event will generate for the much-loved painter.
“She was just a lovely human being who overcame obstacles. It’s wonderful she’s being honoured this way,” she said.