“Believe – and you shall not be found wanting.”

The Toronto Irish Player’s production of Jim Nolan’s play Moonshine is both haunting and hilarious – and every character is subject to a test of faith.

Director Maureen Dorey-Lukie and her lovely cast took us on a journey to Ballintra, a seaside village in the south of Ireland, where the local Church of Ireland rector Reverend Langton and mortician McKeever are both struggling with professional and personal crises. Langton’s church and wife are dying, and the extremely likeable McKeever has a questionable track record both professionally and personally, but is ever the optimist, even as his amateur production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is disintegrating before his – and his ever shrinking cast’s – eyes.

Stephen Flett is excellent as McKeever, who is a bit of a screw-up but possessed of a huge heart – and Flett nicely balances the man’s humour and humanity. The whole cast was very strong: Gregory Cruikshank (Michael), Declan Whelehan (Rev Langton), Carlyn Rhamey (Bridget), William Mowat (Griffin), Myrthin Stagg (Elizabeth) and Mary Hunt, who played a dead Margaret Langton under a sheet at the mortician’s and in the coffin at the funeral service (with the lid closed – but left open a crack – for a good six minutes!).

A very enjoyable afternoon at the theatre (I went yesterday). Moonshine runs until Sat, Nov 6 on the main stage at Alumnae – for info, visit the TIP website: www.torontoirishplayers.org

Jim Nolan – Playwright
Based in Waterford, Jim Nolan is a writer and director, and co-founder of the Red Kettle Theatre, celebrating its 25th year.  His play, The Salvage Shop, won the Irish Times’ award for Best New Play in 1998 and he looks back only to ponder some of the same themes he explores in Moonshine, the need for each soul to have a voice, the need for those ‘who sing for those who cannot speak’.

Interestingly, although he has a successful professional career with productions mounted at the Abbey, the Garter Lane Arts Centre and the Theatre Royal, he has a high regard for community companies like The Irish Players and has praised the commitment and sacrifice of amateurs and acknowledged that some of his richest experiences have come in the collaboration of the professional artist and the amateur.  We hope he would be pleased with this collaboration of our artists with his work.

Maureen Dorey-Lukie – Director
Maureen Dorey-Lukie was welcomed into TIP in 1995 with Dancing at Lughnasa. Since then, she has directed Red Roses and Petrol and the musical adaptation of James Joyce’s The Dead, and most recently appeared as counsellor Suzy in I Do Not Love Thee, Dr. Fell. On this same stage, she was Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice for the Alumnae Theatre. She will finish this season in Barefoot in the Park for Amicus, and by directing Having Hope at Home, also for Amicus.

Stephen Flett – McKeever
Steve is an award-winning actor who has appeared in far too many plays spanning far too many years. This year, he played a Welsh producer in A Chorus of Disapproval (winning a Thea award for Best Actor in a Comedy), an American producer in Moonlight and Magnolias, and now an Irish producer in Moonshine – hmmm… typecasting? This is his fourth appearance with TIP – previously appearing in The Warrior Bard, Moll and Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Thea award – Best Acting Ensemble.) Amongst his many other shows are A Flea In Her Ear, Hockey: The Musical and The Stage Manager in Our Town. Recently: The Flying Avro Arrow (Fringe) Next: Rough Justice (East Side).

Myrthin Stagg – Elizabeth
Myrthin is delighted to be making her debut in Toronto with The Toronto Irish Players. After recently graduating from Dalhousie’s Theatre Acting Programme in Nova Scotia, she made her way across the country to pursue acting. Previous roles include Scipio the Younger in Dante’s Divinus: Inferno, Incubus in Fairy of the Lake, and The Governor’s Wife in The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Dalhousie Theatre). She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support.

Declan Whelehan – Reverend Langton
A native Dubliner, Declan  has acted with several companies over more years than he cares to (or can) remember.
This is his third outing with TIP, most recently appearing as Mick in their production of The Muesli Belt.
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Carlyn Rhamey – Bridget
Carlyn Rhamey is a recent graduate of the Fanshawe College Theatre Arts Program.  Selected credits include: Shakespeare on the Subway directed by Victoria Urquhart (Spur of the Moment Shakespeare Collective), Splendor in the Grass directed by Brenda Bazinet (Fanshawe), Sissy in Unity 1918 directed by Brenda Bazinet (Fanshawe), Ophelia in Hamlet directed by Maja Ardal (Fanshawe), and Sandy in a workshop of The Crackwalker (Fanshawe). Carlyn would like to thank her friends and family for their never ending support, John, Ingrid, Francesca, and Karen for giving her the ‘push’ into the real world and providing her with the tools to survive, and Maureen and Michael for giving her this fantastic opportunity and “beating the cuteness out”.

Gregory Cruikshank – Michael
A survivor of the infamous York University strike of ‘09/10, Gregory is proud to be part of the Toronto Irish Players’ production of Moonshine, his first collaboration with them. Past credits include, Life on a Limb (pettichild*productions), and Brian Morton’s New Talent (Theatre Erebus), which toured the London, Toronto, and Hamilton Fringe Festivals this past summer. He is also an aspiring voice actor, having done numerous commercial voiceovers for the York radio station; and a burgeoning playwright, presently developing an original piece with Robert K Brown. Gregory can also be seen at the Annex Live in Roger Dundas’ remount of  Sex, Relationships, and Sometimes… Love.

William Mowat – Griffin
William Mowat is very happy and enthused to be working with the TIP for the first time. William has been onstage since 1986, where he first played the Tin Man, and has been passionate ever since.  Since graduating from the theatre program at Brock University where he performed shows such as The Misanthrope, The Rover and Woyzeck, William has been actively involved in the Toronto theatre and film industry, acting in a variety of commercials, short and feature films.

Mary Lepik – Margaret
LangtonMary was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland before moving to Toronto at the age of twenty.  For the past 12 years she has been performing competitively in a Sweet Adeline’s Chorus.  This is her first appearance with The Toronto Irish Players.

Auditions August 3rd, 4th (and 5th if necessary)

Callbacks on Aug. 11th.

If you are interested in auditioning or getting involved in any other aspect of the show, please contact
Phone: 416-469-5061
Email: mlukie5061@rogers.com

Please prepare a monologue if the director is unfamiliar with your work or if you so wish.

Audition Location – TBA

Rehearsals will begin as of August 23.

Rehearsal Location – TBA

‘Moonshine’ by Jim Nolan is a bittersweet comedy about a village undertaker, McKeever, who is trying to keep his ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ production alive even though the number of actors at his command has dwindled to four. His life is complicated when the lost love of his life, Elizabeth, returns home with the approaching death of her mother. Also fighting a losing battle is Elizabeth’s father, the Reverend John Langton, whose parish congregation is now smaller than the cast of Midsummer Night’s Dream. McKeever struggles throughout with the question of how and if one could or should keep a dream alive.

The characters:

McKeever (30′s-40′s): He operates in two modes: the frenetic, jagged, nervy weaver of dreams and the committed undertaker, still, erect and calm. Very susceptible romantically and subject to entanglement.

Michael (late teens to early 20′s): Michael is ‘different’, perhaps in some ways autistic, but functioning. Delicately balanced. Intelligent but selectively. Vulnerable. He is McKeever’s apprentice, in the play and on the job.

Reverend Langton (50′s-60′s): A sombre man who has very few illusions left. His wife is near-death but it might be hard to classify Langton among the living.

Bridget (officially 16, needs to play young): Vital, exhuberant, lusty, aggressive and smitten with McKeever. A real life force.

Griffin (teens to late 20′s): A bully on the surface, but with his own secrets. The kind of guy who kicks over sand castles so that no one will accuse him of being sentimental.

Elizabeth (significantly younger than McKeever): When she was 16-17, she had an affair with McKeever, the older man, that broke both their hearts. It’s been 5 years since she’s been back in town at all, although there were a succession of fleeting summer visits to her parents before that. She was a ‘princess’ as he describes her, but now she describes herself as a ‘survivor’.

The actors who play McKeever, Michael, Bridget and Griffin will also be performing excerpts from Midsummer Night’s Dream, so be prepared to have to do that at the callback as well.

APPEARING

WEDNESDAY JUNE 9th

at

DORA KEOGH’S

141 Danforth Avenue
Toronto
(416)778-1804

NOTE THE TIME
8pm to 11pm

Please join us for our new night and time !!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS EMAIL !!
www.allens.to

“Golden Age of Broadway” Gala and Celebration

May 5th at Tosca Banquet Hall – Red carpet rolls out @ 5.30pm
Join us for a night of dinner, dancing and celebration. Hear from keynote
speaker Rocky Varcoe and experience some local talent performing some of
Broadway’s most memorable songs.

Director’s Brunch
May 9th at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery Studio Restaurant – @10.00am
This one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day gift provides a unique opportunity to enjoy
a morning of fascinating conversation and a Q & A session about theatre
in Durham Region. Come meet several Durham Theatre Festival
directors and discover the stories behind the stories!

Productions
photo courtesy of Oshawa Little Theatre
Page to Stage “Love Letters”
Ajax Community Theatre “Sylvia”
Backwoods Players “Distant Shores”
St. Mark’s Players “Where’s the Minister?”
J. Clarke Richardson “ReLying on Remedy”
Photo courtesy of Herongate Barn Theatre
Class Act Dinner Theatre “Sexy Laundry”
Herongate Barn Theatre “Nunsense II”
Uxbridge Music Hall “Lose and Find”

Workshops
Join Nathalie Toriel for a Character Development or
Improv Tips and Tricks workshop. Come for one or come
for both! Space is limited so sign up now!
Oshawa Little Theatre Open House &
Photo courtesy of Herongate Barn Theatre
Guided Tours
Learn about a production from the other side: the
auditions, set, lighting and costumes. See how a play
works behind the curtain and watch a live rehearsal of an
upcoming production.

For more information including dates, times and
locations visit
www.durhamtheatrefestival.com
or call 1.877.828.9282

The 13th Annual Day at the Races

In support of the Celtic Studies Program at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto
Friday, May 28th, 2010 | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
12:00pm Buffet Lunch | 1:00pm Post Time

Buy Tickets >

http://www.irlfunds.org/canada/news_5_10.asp

Woodbine Race Track, Trackside Tent, 555 Rexdale Boulevard, Rexdale

Live & Silent Auctions

Prizes for Best Dressed Couple, Best Ladies’ Hat, Best Man’s Tie!

Please contact us if you would like further information
P – 416-367-8311
E – kkelly@irlfunds.org

The culmination of lots of volunteer support to bring you a taste of the Culture, Heritage, Community and Learning to take place at O’Connor House.  Since the House is yet to be repaired and restored, we again have the use of Our Lady of Sorrows parish Hall at 3055 Bloor St West. (just west of Royal York Road).

Check out the www.oconnorhouse.ca for the full schedule.  There IS something here for everyone.

Join us in giving a warm welcome to our guests:
10:30am The Westenders—your favourites in music and song.
11:30am Aubrey Meinardi-O’Connor School Alumna/Humber
College Interior Design Grad-the awesome O’Connor Project.
12:30pm Dorothy Duncan-Author & Heritage Expert-Heritage
Cooking with tasty Treats to eat.
2:00pm Book Readings: courtesy of Authors-TBA
3:00pm Celtic Spirituality with Heather Dunlop
4:00pm Getting active & smile with Maureen’s Ceili Dancing.
6:00pm Heritage Toronto-by Rebecca Carson-History, Walks,
What’s New and your questions!
7:00pm Irish Choral Society—Sing songs thru the Decades.
8:00pm Roly Salvas, Professor of Engineering-presents
Canadian History where we ‘meet Laura Secord.’

It is a bargain day at $10 per session.  A session is ‘morning’ ‘afternoon’ ‘evening.’  For those who respond and register to attend May 31 and, who are interested in taking a Membership in support of O’Connor House, there is this special offer:  Please do not hesitate as we plan to have a meeting of members in the near future and I welcome your support.

$25 membership – choose any one session for free.
$50 membership – the entire day is free.

Donations of $25 or more will receive a tax receipt.  The sessions still need to be $10 per session as the charitable donation is precisely that – a donation, for tax receipt in return.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to ask – an email would be great: maryfay@rogers.com

This year the guests are:

Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, Uilleann Pipes

Mary Bergin, Tin Whistle

Maeve Donnelly, Fiddle

Alec Finn, Bouzouki

Brian Holleran, Flute

Ivan Goff – Uilleann Pipes

http://www.chrislangan.ca/

It was particularly great to see so many new faces at the party – unfortunately, with all the activity, we didn’t catch everybody’s name. If you were there, and you are a new member, could you please send us an email so that we can thank you directly? By all means include your phone number  so that we can have a chat.
Many thanks again.

A reminder that our next show will be Moonshine by Jim Nolan, directed my Maureen Dorie-Lukey and produced by Geraldine Browne. We’ll have an update on how you can audition or get involved in the next newsletter along with news of our Summer BBQ and play-reading schedule.

An Introduction to traditions of Ireland…
Language, singing, dancing, music, crafts, football, etc

Toronto East –
July 26 – 30
Canadian Martyrs
520 Plains road
(Woodbine & O’Connor)

Toronto West –
August 9-13
Our Lady of Sorrows
32 Montgomery Rd
(Bloor & Islington)

Mississauga-
July 12-16
The Irish Supporters Club
4120 Ridgeway blvd
(Winston Churchill blvd & Burnhamthorp)

Ajax
July 5-8
Ajax High School
105 Bayly St (e)
(East of Harwood south side)

For more information or to register contact Maureen Mulvey-O’Leary
Home: (416) 446-6993 Cell: (647) 380-9001
E-Mail: moleary2001@rogers.com

Cost is $115.00 a week and includes
•    Pizza lunch (don’t bring a lunch on Friday, pizza and snacks will be provided)
•    A small concert to showcase the talented students Friday afternoon
•    Starting and 9:00am and finishing and 3:30pm everyday
•    Instruments provided, which can be rented throughout the year for a small fee

Make cheques payable to the Irish Summer School
c/o Maureen Mulvey-O’Leary, 2040 Don Mills Road #406, Toronto, Ont. M3A-3R7

EVERYONE WELCOME
*Hours will be giving to energetic, hard working high school students looking for a fun way to complete their required volunteer hours for high school.*