Recently, I spoke with Thousand Islands Playhouse Artistic Director Brett Christopher, who is delighted that Sheila McCarthy will be part of the season in Gananoque this year.

I’m delighted with this news as well. 

I’ve seen her directorial work at Stratford’s Here for Now Festival last year in the Rules of Playing Risk. I’ve also seen her work on CBC’s Little Mosque on the Prairie and in the film I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing.

McCarthy will direct Kristen DaSilva’s Sugar Road, which opens May 22 at the Thousand Islands Playhouse Gananoque Springer Theatre. As she is busy with rehearsals, I was pleased she was able to answer questions via email.

The theatre and its intimacy are among the things McCarthy adores about the art form. She loves the risk because it is live and breathing, and that things can go wrong. However, she adds, 

“There is nothing like sitting in a theatre in a collective moment sharing a play with everyone. A theatre experience takes you out of the social media-drenched, alone isolation and into a shared world. It’s magic.”

McCarthy loves being somewhere new to explore a play with an element of fun and freedom in such a beautiful place as Gananoque.  This was a big reason she decided to travel eastward in late spring.  She compliments Artistic Director Brett Christopher and the top-notch crew she has:

“Brett has built an incredible empire in Gananoque. Other artists have told me over and over again how much they love working here, and now I can see why.”

Sugar Road follows Hannah Taylor who has poured her heart into keeping her family’s amusement park, Sugar Road, alive. Years ago, Hannah shared a single, unforgettable night there with Jesse Emberley before fame carried him away. Now Jesse returns, headlining the Spurs and Hearts Music Festival at Sugar Road, and the past comes rushing back.

The Playhouse website describes Da Silva’s work as a heartfelt story about the one that got away and the surprises that come our way when we least expect them.

McCarthy also states that Da Silva writes about the human experience with depth, humour and folly:

“She [Kristen] understands our fragile hearts, and audiences recognize themselves in her wonderful plays.  Her characters are full of [flaws] just as we are. Is there anything better than having a cry, than a belly laugh, and then another cry while sitting in the beautiful [Springer] theatre?”

Sheila says it’s an honour to direct Sugar Road. She hopes she provides a huge safety net for the actors to work, screw up and also have a lot of fun.

She also says she feels enormously lucky to have this incredible cast: Fiona Mongillo (Artistic Director of Stratford’s Here for Now Theatre, who has taken time out of her busy job) plays Hannah. Will Carr plays heart-breaking country and western singer Jesse Emberley. Debbie Collins plays Caroline Dawn with her comedy and enormous heart. John Cleland, the story’s anchor, plays Ray Bishop.

According to Sheila, the cast arrived at the rehearsal hall prepared and ready to play. She just needs to stay out of their way and let them go.

What’s McCarthy hoping audiences will take away with them after seeing Sugar Road?

“I would love audiences to walk away talking about their own past loves and broken hearts. That’s the best takeaway – relating to those wonderful characters up there on the stage and feeling as though you know exactly who they are when the play is done.”

What’s next for Sheila McCarthy once Sugar Road concludes its run?

She’s opening a scary film, ‘Voices of the Mother’, at several film festivals, and a sweeter film, ‘Dancing on the Elephant’, which she completed last year with Mary Walsh.

McCarthy then directs a brand new play at Stratford’s Here for Now Theatre – Early Genius, by Steve Ross.

Sounds like more good stuff to see.

Click here: https://www.1000islandsplayhouse.com/sugar-road/ for online ticket purchasing and to see other names of the creative team.

Sugar Road runs May 22 – June 14 at the Springer Theatre. 

To learn more about the Thousand Islands Playhouse, visit: www.1000islandsplayhouse.com.