The excitement of the first Northumberland Players dinner theatre since February 2020 (and their first indoor production following their pop-up theatres this summer) made the first weekend of The Birds and The Bees a memorable occasion, producer Jack Boyagian said this week.
And you can still catch it for two more weekends.
“It went really well,” Boyagian said of the Oct. 22-24 shows.
“I found that the atmosphere was sort of energized, people were so glad to get out.
“I made an announcement at the beginning saying, 'Thank you for your patience,' because people had to line up and show their COVID passports – but everybody was so excited just to get out.
“Everybody had a great time and, I think, felt safe. Ticket sales are going great, people are having fun.”
Their long-time dinner-theatre venue, the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre, made some COVID-inspired changes, with fewer tables spaced farther apart. And instead of a sumptuous buffet, you can order your three-course dinner when you sit down – a choice of two appetizers, four choices of entree and two options for dessert.
The show is one Boyagian has wanted to do for some time, and it just became available.
The Mark Crawford play is about a retired woman who takes up beekeeping, and finds more challenges than just this new pursuit – the farmer who rents part of her property, the 38-year-old daughter who moves back home when her marriage breaks up, a handsome young university researcher.
“At the same time, it has some environmental issues in it – about beekeeping and farming and what's happening to our environment.
“It's a smart sort of theme, and also there's an interesting tie-in with the meaning of life, how we deal with the changes in our world. It's a very clever play, and I think it's well written. Everyone loved it.”
Northumberland Players tackled the COVID challenge at every step of this production, starting with the casting. The role of the two couples involved were played by two married couples, and the directors were also married.
That would be Kaye Torrie (the beekeeper) and Neil Torrie (the cash cropper), Josh Graham (the student) and Emily Graham (the daughter), with directors Dan Kapp and Lisa Kapp. Boyagian is joined by Valerie Russell as producer.
“When we started three months ago, we didn't know if it was going to happen. Can we have actors within six feet of each other? Are we afraid to touch each other? It was a step-by-step process,” Boyagian said.
“Regulations were changing, and we wanted to make sure our people are safe. We rehearsed with masks. We got an air circulator for the Firehall Theatre, thanks to a grant we got.
“It was a long process to make sure, when things did happen, we were ready.
“We are on the right path, and feeling pretty good about it.”
The lower capacity at the Best Western is a smart move to ease everyone back into the beloved old activities everyone missed, he added.
“We will probably sell over 1,300 tickets. I would have been happy with 900,” he said.
On the other hand, with fewer tickets available, anyone interested should move quickly to get a ticket to the shows on Oct. 29, 30 and 31, as well as Nov. 5, 6 and 7.
Tickets are an all-inclusive $60 per person. Purchase yours at the Best Western (930 Burnham St.) or call 905-372-2105.