The Oakville Players are opening their 2014/ 2015 season with “Colours in the Storm: The Tom Thomson Musical” by Canadian playwright and lyricist Jim Betts.
The production boasts a cast of 19 actors/singers, with Jack Verrips in the lead role of Thomson, as well as a six member band directed by Brian Turnbull.
“This is the first time that The Oakville Players has put on a musical in our 52 year history,” says Mary Rose, producer and artistic director. “We chose this play as Tom Thomson’s art glorifies the Canadian wilderness and his story speaks passionately to our Canadian hearts and spirits. It’s a wonderful play, full of adventure, romance and mystery.”
As the talented Oakville Players bring Tom Thomson and the people with whom he was close to back to life, the audience is skillfully transported to the shores of Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park; to the lake’s moods and colours and to the colourful personalities of its people. The story is one of love and focuses on the years Tom Thomson lived in Algonquin Park, a place of raw beauty and ever-changing landscapes. During that time, he painted hundreds of ‘sketches’, obsessed with perfection, and produced his iconic paintings The West Wind, The Jack Pine, and Northern River.
Thomson’s life in the park and his mysterious death in 1917 are played out through scenes, accompanied by vibrant songs and a wonderfully haunting musical score. The use of Thomson’s paintings on stage brought an even deeper understanding to the story of this incredible Canadian artist. A must to see....
For over 35 years, as part of The Oakville Drama Series, The Oakville Players and West End Studio Theatre have been producing high quality theatre. For further information on The Oakville Players, please visit http://www.oakvilleplayers.ca/ or find The Oakville Players on Facebook.
Colours in the Storm will be performed from November 7-8 at 8:00 p.m., on November 9 at 2:00 p.m. and from Nov. 12-15 at 8:00 p.m. at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, at 130 Navy Street, Oakville, ON, L6L 2Z4. Tickets are on sale now. Evening performance tickets are $28. Wednesday evening and Sunday matinee tickets are $22. Groups of 10 or more receive a $2 discount per ticket. Tickets may be ordered on line – with the use of Visa or Master Card or an Oakville Centre gift certificate - at www.oakvillecentre.ca, by calling the box office at 905-815-2021 (toll free 1-888-489-7784), or in person at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts