A one-man show is
never really a one-man show.
When the lights come
up and a performer steps onto the stage alone, the audience sees a
single storyteller. What they don’t see are the many creative hands
that helped build the world around him.
That’s certainly
the case with Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears
The show begins with
the writing of Cambridge author Charlene Herrold (1920–2009). Her
collection of stories imagined the spirited Irish village of
Ballycarlene — a place where neighbours gossip across fences,
fiddlers play late into the night, and the everyday dramas of village
life unfold with equal measures of humour and heartbreak.
Those stories have
now been adapted for the stage by Guelph actor and storyteller Jay
Wilson, who performs the one-man production, bringing to life a
lively cast of characters including Terrible Tom O’Malley, the
Widow O’Donnell, Fiddler O’Flaherty, and even the cat, Frances
O’Feline. Following enthusiastic audience response at Theatre
Collingwood’s Porchside Festival, and Guelph's River Run Centre, the show has since travelled to
stages across Ontario.
But while only one
performer appears on stage, the production itself reflects a number
of local creative collaborators.
Simple set pieces
were built by Fergus craftsman Jim Hoare, a long-time supporter of
community theatre, while the visual world of the show is shaped by
scenic artwork from Guelph illustrator and painter Robin Baird Lewis,
whose artistic career spans more than five decades and more than
thirty children’s books.
Together, these
artists — writer, performer, builder, and painter — reflect
something easy to overlook: the depth of creative talent that exists
throughout our region.
That local creative
ecosystem depends on spaces where artists can share their work. For
Wilson it is encouraging to see the River Run Centre providing
opportunities for professional artists from our community to perform
alongside national and international programming.
Across the city
there are signs that this cultural community is gaining new
recognition. The Guelph Arts Council will soon launch the GRETAs
(Guelph Recognition of Excellence in the Arts), celebrating artists
and innovators whose work enriches the life of the community. At the
same time, the City of Guelph has recently adopted a cultural plan
that recognizes the importance of supporting and nurturing the arts
locally.
Perhaps one day this
momentum will lead to the development of a resident professional
theatre company devoted to telling stories rooted here — stories
that reflect not only Guelph’s past, but the many cultures and
lived experiences that shape the city today.
In the meantime,
productions like Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears remind us that
storytelling is alive and well. All it takes is a good
story, a few dedicated artists, and an audience willing to come along
for the ride.
One Hat. One Stage. Endless
Possibilities.
