Rum makes for telling good stories
Stinson and Hickox team up for “Down with the Demon Rum: Stories and Songs of Rum Running on P.E.I.”
Hank Stinson and Rowena Hickox are well-known theatre performers.
I remember Stinson for his tender portrayal of Matthew in “Anne of Green Gables – The Musical” as well as his lively prospector character in “Flash in the Pan: A Klondike Musical”, a musical that he wrote.
I also remember Hickox for her poignant portrayal of Valency Stirling, the 29-year-old spinster, in the theatrical adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s book, “The Blue Castle. She also played Mrs. Barry in “Anne of Green Gables – The Musical” and numerous roles in community theatre productions including Mrs. Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol”.
Now, the married couple are putting their theatrical talents together in a new show, “Down with the Demon Rum: Stories and Songs of Rum Running on P.E.I.”
Written and performed by the Stinsons, the musical tells how P.E.I.’s rum runners almost got away with it, including the famous Captain Dicks and his schooner, the Nellie J. Banks.
“It was fun doing the research on the downtown core, the historical buildings that were there,” says Hickox of the show that runs Sundays in July and August, 5:30 p.m., starting July 2 at The Haviland Club, 2 Haviland St., Charlottetown.
“I grew up in downtown Charlottetown but I learned so much.”
For example, Henry Benoit’s house, at 100 Water Street, was an arcade and a lunch counter. “Although in the 20’s and 30’s, the lunch counter was just a front for a bootleggers,” says Stinson, with a laugh.
One of the rumours is there was a tunnel from Benoit’s house down to the harbour, where they could quickly access the rum.
“I’m looking forward to hearing other stories that come out every time we do this,” says Hickox.
The idea for the summer series started when Stinson, a member of the Haviland Club, suggested doing a fundraiser based on a walking tour that the couple had done three or four years ago.
Coincidently, it was based on bootlegging.
“We would sing a song. Rowena would give them the historical data and I would give them the nonsense. And we’d go from station to station.”
They realized that with a little tweaking it could be adapted into a stage show. To make it even more of an Island experience they added a fisherman’s supper complete with fish cakes, beans and shortcake.
Besides meeting their guests they look forward to hearing their stories.
“There are always some new ones that come out every time we do this,” says Hickox.