Romantic season finale set for Firehall Theatre
Conni Massing’s ‘The Invention of Romance’ starts on April 26
For Tim Denis, the end of April is going to be the proverbial one door closing and another opening.
On April 30, the CKTB morning man brings his 47-year career in radio to a close. But four days before that, his latest show for Firehall Theatre — Conni Massing’s “The Invention of Romance” — opens in Niagara Falls.
During what has been an emotional month for Denis, directing the clever comedy has been a much-needed diversion.
“One of the reasons I still do a lot of theatre is it gives me a distraction from the other stuff,” he says. “Once I get going on that, everything else kind of falls away.
“It’s a really nice distraction while the pressures of everything else happens.”
Denis has juggled radio and theatre for decades in Niagara, directing for both Firehall Theatre and Garden
City Productions. Massing’s play is one of his recent favourites, playing with rom-com conventions while diving much deeper than expected.
The play finds a museum curator named Kate who has been asked to mount an exhibit on the history of romance and love despite having no luck with either her entire life. At the same time, her widowed mother is renewing an old romance with someone she co-starred with in a play 60 years ago.
“(Massing) always has a unique way of looking at things,” says Denis. “She’s very intrinsically Canadian, but she also has a sense of the absurd. She deals with dysfunctional families and relationships and stuff.
“This isn’t Hugh Grant and Tom Hanks. It’s a deeper look into romance and why people fall in love. Not just because they see each other and there’s an orchestra playing in the background. This is what happens with misunderstandings, what happens once you get past the initial physical attraction. What continues to attract you. It’s a really funny piece, but it requires you to listen to it.”
Denis says the play is a showcase for his three-member cast: Katie Muirhead, Laurel Candler and Jerome Black.
“These three are probably some of the best actors in the Niagara area in a long, long time.”
With retirement looming, Denis doesn’t intend to leave theatre behind. But he’ll stick with community theatre — the thought of seeking a new job so soon after leaving the last one isn’t appealing.
“I like the ability to work when I want, how I want,” he says.
“At this point, I want to relax for a year or so and see what I want to do going forward.”
“The Invention of Romance” is at Firehall Theatre (4990 Walnut St., Niagara Falls) from April 26 to May 12. For tickets, visit firehalltheatre.com.