Foster Festival returning to the stage with Christmas show
Several local theatre couples will perform staged readings of Norm Foster play in locations across Niagara
After a lost season, the holidays bring the return of The Foster Festival to Niagara.
It won’t be business as usual, says artistic producer Emily Oriold. But 12 staged readings of Norm Foster’s “The Christmas Tree” is a sign local theatre is turning the corner after the pandemic all but wiped out 2020.
The series will feature 12 shows, with a different pair of actors each night, performing in a variety of locations across Niagara .
It kicks off Dec. 4 at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre with Shaw Festival veterans Marla MacLean and Graeme Somerville.
“It feels really good, actually,” says Oriold, who rejoined the company in June.
In addition to strict safety protocols — all shows will have 50 people or less in attendance, all safely distanced — the company has taken a unique extra step: only real-life couples have been cast.
Turns out, there were plenty of options in Niagara.
In addition to Maclean and Somerville, subsequent shows will have Gabrielle Jones and Peter Millard Dec. 5 (2 p.m.); Tara Rosling and Patrick McManus Dec. 5 (7:30 p.m.); Catherine McGregor and Jim Mezon Dec. 6 (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.); Mary Long and Sandy Crawley Dec. 10 (7:30 p.m.); Nicole Joy-Fraser and Jason Chesworth Dec. 11 (7:30 p.m.); Stephanie Jones and Jason Cadieux Dec. 12 (7:30 p.m.); Chick Reid and Tom McCamus Dec. 13 (2 p.m.); Emily Oriold and Darren Keay Dec. 17 (7:30 p.m.); Sharry Flett and Anthony Bekenn Dec. 18 (7:30 p.m.) and Cosette Derome and Kelly Wong Dec. 19 (7:30 p.m.).
“In order to do it safely we’ve chosen artist couples, because they’ve quarantined together,” says Oriold.
“This whole thing was born out of the desire to get as many artists working as possible. We thought, 12 readings — why not? That would be getting all of those actors working and be a lot of fun because then people could choose which couple they wanted to see.”
After the first show at the PAC, venues will be the Stone Mill Ballroom, Coppola’s, The Grantham House, The Office, Vineland Estates Winery in Vineland, Wellington Court, Henry of Pelham and Bolette. Except for the winery, all venues are in St. Catharines.
Like the Shaw Festival and other professional theatre companies in Canada, the Foster Festival was forced to cancel its entire summer season due to the pandemic. Oriold is hoping COVID-19’s second wave doesn’t cripple the industry further and anticipates playing to 30 per cent capacity next summer at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
She says the Christmas show has offered some “hope and a feeling of normalcy” after seven long months.
“To see the joy on (the performers’) faces, that’s why we’re doing this. To get back to doing what we love to do. We’re feeling OK, but it’s tough not being able to make plans.”