Sharon Crandall as Suzanne, Evelyn Chew as Beth, Sarina Prada as Glenda in the Chemainus Theatre Festival's Home to Roost now playing at the Theatre. (Photo by Barry J. Brady)
In these stressful times, it would seem that comedy has a vital role to play. And the current production at the Chemainus Theatre Festival offers a welcome escape from daily challenges.
Home to Roost, a Canadian-based comedy, opened at the Theatre last week and has been delighting audiences with its fast-paced theme of family and love.
“This show has been a dream to work on,” says director Jessica Schacht. “Everyone brought a sense of collaboration to tackle the laughs and the heart. I enjoy working on comedy because I think that laughter can open us to connection.”
Schacht is back in Chemainus where she was director of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley last season and The Fiancée in 2023.
“Plus, it’s also just so much fun in the rehearsal hall and I think that translates to the stage. I think folks will recognize some of the family dynamics at play and be reminded of the places they call home,” adds Schacht.
The four-person cast includes two returnees to the Chemainus stage. Frankie Cottrell who plays Patrick had a role in The Fiancée and Sabrina Prada (Glenda in this production) had a role in The Sound of Music, the long-running musical in the spring of 2019.
Evelyn Chew and Sharon Crandall round out the cast.
“The cast is fantastic, the design is beautiful, the laughs are plentiful, and you may need to bring some tissues,” suggests Schacht.
The place is a porch in Little Current on Manitoulin Island, where city-transplants Glenda and Suzanne have lived together since Suzanne arrived single, penniless and pregnant over 30 years ago, moving in with Glenda and her late husband, Mark. While one is warm and industrious and the other brash and prone to late mornings, the sisters are nevertheless devoted to one another and spend laughter-filled days swapping stories about the locals and roping their appealing veterinarian neighbour, Patrick into various chores.
This summer, an imminent visit from Suzanne’s daughter, Beth, a doctor from Toronto, is about to complicate things. Not only do Suzanne and Beth clash over everything, starting with Beth’s choice of pants, the sisters have recently been harbouring a weighty secret. When Beth arrives, it becomes clear that they aren’t the only ones. Amid a busy reunion week that includes a wild wedding, medicinal experimentation and a budding romance, the women are eventually forced to confront truths that will change all four lives forever. Home to Roost is a hilarious and honest exploration of family, forgiveness and falling in love.
“We hope to transport audiences to the endless summer of Suzanne and Glenda’s front porch, where there are laughs and a shoulder to cry on,” says Schacht.
“I hope audiences come out to enjoy this production.”
Sharon Crandall is Suzann and, Frankie Cotrell is Patrick in Home to Roost. (Photo by Barry J. Brady)