Back onstage
Mary ColinChisholm joining cast of Cape Breton Summertime Revue
One of Atlantic Canada’s most respected actors will be joining the cast of this year’s Cape Breton Summertime Revue.
Mary Colin-Chisholm joined the cast of the Rise and Follies of Cape Breton Island back in 1985 where she initially met present Revue director Maynard Morrison. Between then and now, Colin-Chisholm has played roles in theatres across Canada and has had roles on several TV shows such as “Pit Pony,” “Black Harbour,” “Made in Canada,” “Haven” and “Forgive Me.” She has had several film roles, including the
leads in “Cloudburst” and “Cast No Shadow,” which won her best actress at the Atlantic Film Fest in 2016. She also writes plays and her play “Hook, Line and Sinner” has premiered at the Ship’s Co. Theatre in Parrsboro.
“We were trying to think of the person that we’d just love to have in the show,” said Morrison. “Bette and I started working with Mary Colin two or three years ago with our annual Christmas show, T’Is The Season and we knew that Stephanie Hennessey decided not to come back this year and knew we wanted another woman in the show and as soon as we thought of Mary Colin we became incredibly excited — we sometimes call her Mary Cameleon because she can take on characters and make them brilliantly real and we just love her. She will have a very positive influence and impact on this cast and on this show.”
While many may assume Colin-Chisholm is from Antigonish or Halifax, she was born in Inverness County.
“Which is just a happy coincidence because we would want her anyway because we’ve adopted her,” said Morrison.
Morrison is currently working with others associated with the show in developing this year’s script. Expect a return from the Coal Tones, a doo-wop group that specializes in local commentary, some sketches involving waiting rooms that take a look at health care on Cape Breton and there will be even stewardesses from Air Bras d’Or, a reminder of some sketches done in 1980s about a Cape Breton airline.
In addition to Colin-Chisholm, the show will also feature Jenn Sheppard, Peter MacInnis, Jordan Musycsyn and Margaret MacPherson. Musical direction will be by Stephen Muise and Fred Lavery and other members of the Revue band include Brian Talbot, Allie Bennett, Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen.
The dates for this year’s show at the Savoy Theatre are July 31, Aug. 1, 2 and 12 and at Pictou’s DeCoste Centre on Aug. 9.