WELLINGTON COUNTY — Mary’s Wedding will arrive on stage this fall, just in time for Remembrance Day, at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from Oct. 26 to Nov. 12.
Written by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte, Mary’s Wedding transcends time, seamlessly weaving together the realms of dreams, memories and reality, while emphasizing the enduring strength of the human heart.
“Mary’s Wedding is a poignant reminder of the enduring strength of love, even amidst the chaos of war,” said Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas. “Audiences will be swept away by a story that delves into the depths of romance, longing, and the conflict between duty and personal desires.”
When Mary and Charlie unexpectedly find one another sheltering in a barn during a thunderstorm, a tentative love is born. But the year is 1914, and the world is collapsing into a brutal war. Together, they attempt to hide their love, galloping through the fields for a place and time where the tumultuous uncertainties of battle cannot find them.
This romance is brought to life by director Skye Brandon, who recently helmed this season’s production of A Few Good Men at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge. Brandon will be joined by set designer Douglas Paraschuk, costume designer Joanna Lee, lighting designer Kevin Fraser, stage manager Dustyn Wales and apprentice stage manager Conner Bustamante.
Ellen Denny will take on the role of Mary, a young English girl who recently immigrated to the Canadian Prairies. Denny was last seen in Drayton Entertainment’s 2016 production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. She received a Dora Award nomination for her role in Life After at Canadian Stage, appeared in Anne and Gilbert at the National Arts Centre and The Sound of Music at Thousand Islands Playhouse, and performed with Mirvish, Crow’s Theatre, Citadel Theatre, and many more. She is also an accomplished playwright, whose works have been produced by theatre companies across Canada.
Dante Jemmott takes on the role of Charlie, a Canadian farm boy, making his Drayton Entertainment debut. Jemmott just finished his first season at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and has also appeared in Prince Hamlet for Why Not Theatre, All’s Well That Ends Well at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and in R + J for Why Not Theatre and the Stratford Festival.
The 2023 Drayton Entertainment production of Mary’s Wedding is dedicated in memory of Marti Maraden. A gentle giant in Canadian theatre, Maraden was scheduled to direct this production of Mary’s Wedding. Sadly, she passed away shortly before embarking on this creative journey.
Her influence can be witnessed in numerous aspects of the play – the physical production, the talented artists on stage and the captivating show artwork. As a devoted protégé of Marti Marden, Skye Brandon has graciously stepped into the director’s chair, carrying forward the artistic vision developed for the production.
Regular performance tickets are $55 for adults, $34 for youth under 20 years old. Tickets for select Discount Dates and groups of 20 or more are $45, and small groups of 10-19 are $50. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at draytonentertainment.com.
