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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-08-02, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018. 'Wing Night' to feature Shindig sold on stage By Denny Scott The Citizen Visitors to the Blyth Festival production of Wing Night at the Boot will get nearly the full experience of visiting the iconic Blyth Inn restaurant with the addition of draught beer to the on-stage production. The beer, which will be available for cash on stage at every production of the show, is just a natural fit according to Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt. Comin' in hot The Walton Brewers claimed the B -A Championship in the Brussels Tigers annual Men's Invitational Tournament with a 4-1 win over the Goderich Grizzlies. The squad earned their berth in the championship with an impressive 8-1 win over the Monkton Muskrats, shown above. (Quinn Talbot photo) Blyth -centric `Boot' opens Aug. 8 Decades worth of colourful stories and memories that have emerged from the Blyth Inn commercial tavern will be captured in the Blyth Festival's Wing Night at the Boot, a play written by The Company, which opens Aug. 8. "It's been a real community effort. The writers have teased stories out of a long list of people who have worked at or frequented the Blyth Inn over its impressive 141 -year history. They've heard stories about the inn — affectionately known as "The Boot" — that are outrageous, funny, poignant, and sometimes stranger than fiction. The stories are told from all different perspectives — owners and proprietors, waitresses and line cooks, bartenders, musicians and patrons, couples falling in love, rival ball teams out to settle the score, old timers reminiscing, local practical jokers out to pull a fast one, you Tops in Canada Not only was Team Cowbell awarded as being the biggest team in this year's MS Bike tour from Grand Bend to London and back over the weekend, but with nearly $145,000 raised, the team has the highest team fundraising total in all of Canada. The team included riders from all over the province and some special guests from Tennessee this year, with Blyth residents Jeff Peters, left, and Shawn Loughlin representing Cowbell's home community. (Photo submitted) name it," said Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt, who is also a co - creator of the play. From the days when the rubber boots at the bar were still "fresh" from the barn, to dollar draft night, to snowmobilers, to fiddlers, to karaoke contests, Wing Night at the Boot celebrates and lampoons the Blyth Inn. While the play is set in Blyth, the audience will never have had to set foot in the village or the Blyth Inn to see the humour. "No matter where you're from, there's probably been a place like the Blyth Inn, or 'The Boot,' in your life," said Severn Thompson, the play's director and co -creator. The Festival has a special treat for its audiences, giving patrons the opportunity to walk right on stage and buy a beer, served by the actors and Festival special guests, before the performances and during the intervals. Age of majority required. "We want folks as welcome on the stage as they are in the bar. This is the Rubber Boot. You're right in there. For the run of this show, we're all regulars on the well-worn barstools," Garratt said. Wing Night at the Boot is created and performed by Georgina Beaty, Graham Cuthbertson, Marion Day, Gil Garratt, Nathan Howe, Tony Munch and Daniel Roberts, along with director Severn Thompson. The creative team for Wing Night at the Boot is: Anita Nitoly, fight director; Jenna McCutchen, set designer; Jennifer Triemstra- Johnston, costume designer; Itai Erdal, lighting designer and Heidi Chan, sound designer. Stage management by Christine Oakey and Daniel Ou1ton. Reserve your seats by calling the box office at 519-523-9300, toll free 1-877-862-5984 or online at blythfestival.com "It was an inspiration that came to me," he said. "If people are going to experience The Boot, they should be able to do so with a beer in their hand. "It's not like we live in a dry county anymore," Garratt added, a nod to Blyth's Prohibition -era history which will be explored through the stories in and around the on-stage version of the Blyth Inn. Garratt expects the beer on tap will be Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company's Shindig, a Huron County -inspired pilsner. Earlier this year, the beer was chosen to be served in the Ontario Legislative dining room after being voted best lager by MPPs, cabinet ministers and legislative staff. The pilsner is made with traditional Bohemian floor -malted pilsner malt from Germany along with German hops. Garratt said that working with Cowbell to have the beer on stage has been great, crediting company founder and CEO Steven Sparling, Chief Development Officer Grant Sparling and Vice -President, Operations, Natasha Fritzley with displaying significant support for the project and helping with equipment. Though it might be a Blyth Festival first, this isn't the first time a theatre organization has offered such an experience, with Garratt pointing to the Broadway show Once. The play, akin to how Wing Night at the Boot focuses on the well- known Blyth watering hole, focuses on a bar in Dublin, Ireland and allowed theatre -goers to drink in the bar. While all the logistics have yet to be nailed down, Garratt says that audience members will be able to walk on to the stage, cash in hand, place an order with a member of the cast or crew (including Garratt and Blyth Festival General Manager Rachael King) and receive some Shindig. Wing Night at the Boot premieres Aug. 8. Your Local Paper - The Original Social Media! News / Information / Events / Shopping Community / & More The Citizen Home MON Photos Posts Cemmuny medaNews Company The ClUen andre-1 Denny Sea. peel 04,b. °rano NOM 1XO 51,521 0762 ppt ms.. to. In print, online or on the go, we are your local newspaper. We keep you connected to what's happening in our communities and surrounding areas. The Citizen www.northhuron.on.ca Facebook IJ www.Facebook.com/NorthHuronCitizen Twitter @TheNHCitizen info @ northhuron.on.ca The Citizen WRO' INGIAT TASTE oi HURON Deadline August 117161 IP •tire halt. 4 BY neon,. Scen Put your business„ in front of the 'ough waters ne l°.trthe ay. StrocO RIGHT ey by. SI 7;g Music Fes Ben cam for the the Hare, rein come. event a there Isn't, areas healthy' e,�n, end they e� �, es! Lb I del min BST Mitd Wl7 h,II Pita 'Citizit hasEspectar interest issues coming up. Call or email ourknnavketing mea lot , sinckalk today !v, 519-523-41792- .tosin 7formorede ads@northhuron o ,, ca.