HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-06-23, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016.
A great celebration
The Belgrave Summer Festival was held for the second year in a row on Saturday. The event,
which featured a hot air balloon, live music, a dance, dinner and a classic car show was
originally held on the August long weekend but was moved up to June this year in hopes of
drawing a bigger crowd. (Denny Scott photo)
Festival opens 42nd
season with gala
Continued from page 27
than they have in a long time.
The story is told by way of
Laurie's real-life trek of the Camino
Trail in Spain — a pilgrimage she
took alone, or rather, with her son
Matthew in the form of a small vile
of his ashes.
Along the way Laurie, played by
Rebecca Auerbach, meets Mario, a
New Jersey Afghanistan veteran
played by Tony Munch, and she
shares intimate moments with
the spirit of her lost son
Matthew, played by Jesse
LaVercombe.
Laurie's exchanges with Matthew,
however fleeting, are heartbreaking
moments to which anyone who has
experienced an immense loss can
relate. There are questions left
unanswered, statements left unsaid
and there is the ever-present fear of
further loss as time goes on and
memories fade.
LaVercombe plays Matthew as the
superstar he was. A high school
sports star, a hotshot soldier and a
good-looking, confident young man
who had no problem attracting the
attention of young women.
But he also plays a caring son — a
man wise beyond his years who
loved his mother, but refuses to
apologize for his life's path.
Auerbach captures the quiet,
strong nature of Laurie. Full of
emotion simmering on the stove,
only occasionally bubbling over
after the pressure mounts.
J.D. Nicholsen perfectly captures
Lincoln. He's funny and grounded in
his opinions — he's the consummate
storyteller people gravitate to in a
room. Nicholsen does this with the
bravado and flair Festival audiences
have come to expect of him.
Cam Laurie is quiet and reserved
as Brendon, while Munch and
Catherine Fitch excel in their largely
comedic roles as Mario and Gail
respectively.
Meghan Chalmers makes only a
brief appearance as Sarah,
Matthew's girlfriend at the time of
his death, but her presence is
impactful in the story's trajectory.
Garratt works to bring the story
together and tell it to audiences both
like the one on opening night — full
of hundreds of people who know the
Dinnings better than most — and the
audience destined for Memorial Hall
on a random weeknight in July, the
members of which have perhaps
never before even heard Matthew's
name.
No two paths of grief are the same,
and the Dinnings are brave to let
their story be told on the Memorial
Hall stage, and perhaps beyond.
Our Beautiful Sons presents
intimate, difficult discussions never
meant to see the light of day,
watching one family's journey
through grief and the hard work,
understanding and love it takes to
come out together on the other side,
and through doing so, we're all
richer for it. This production is truly
an example of the Festival doing
what it does best in serving its home
community.
Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering
Matthew Dinning runs until
Aug. 6.
Vacation Bible School
Brussels Community Bible Chapel
is hosting
Vacation Bible School
July 11-15
8:45 am - 11:30 am
at the
Brussels Business and
Cultural Centre
650 Alexander Street, Brussels
Come enjoy FREE games, crafts,
snacks and learning about the life of
Joseph for five days this summer!
For more information contact
Andrew Versteeg
519-357-7302
To Pre -Register Please Call Janice Bell: 519- 887- 8138