Live Theatre in Guelph Ontario

 

Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears

One Man. Many Voices. An Irish tapestry of humour and heart.

GUELPH, ON – April 2026 — In Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears, veteran Ontario actor and storyteller Jay Wilson offers an evening of richly theatrical storytelling drawn from the spirit of rural Ireland. On Thursday, April 9 at 8 p.m. in the River Run Centre’s Studio Theatre, Wilson inhabits a gallery of unforgettable characters — revealing lives shaped by resilience, mischief, longing, and love.

With more than five decades of experience on stage, Wilson moves fluidly from one voice to another, embodying figures such as Fiddler O’Flaherty, the formidable Widow O’Donnell, Devlin Haggerty — and even Frances O’Feline, a cat of uncommon presence. Each portrait is rendered with emotional nuance and a deep respect for the rhythms of oral tradition, where laughter and loss are never far apart.

The production is adapted from a collection of stories by the late Charlene Herrold, a long-time family friend whose writing captured the cadence and character of Irish village life. When Wilson first encountered her work, he recognized in it the bones of theatre — intimate monologues alive with possibility. What began as a creative exploration gradually grew into a fully realized one-person show and a tribute to both the author and the storytelling tradition she cherished.

Early presentations with the Guelph Guild of Storytellers gradually evolved into a full one-person production. Following sold-out performances at Theatre Collingwood’s 2023 Porchside Festival, Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears has continued to resonate with audiences across Ontario. The production blends theatrical craft with heartfelt storytelling, inviting audiences into a world where wit softens sorrow and every life, no matter how ordinary, carries quiet significance.

This show is part of the Showcase Series, which features one-of-a-kind, theatrical performances. It is proudly supported by River Run’s 2025/26 Season Sponsor, Richardson Wealth, as well as with funding from the Government of Canada.

Tickets to Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears are $30 for adults, $28 for patrons over 60 years old, and $25 for those under 30. Sliding Scale tickets are available for $10 and $20. For more information or to purchase, call 519-763-3000, visit River Run’s Box Office at 35 Woolwich Street in Guelph, or go to https://riverrun.ca/whats-on/lilt-of-laughter-trace-of-tears/.

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The Myth of the One-Man Show

 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, coming to the River Run Centre Studio Theatre on April 9.

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, 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 in Guelph. All it takes is a good story, a few dedicated artists, and an audience willing to come along for the ride.

Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears will be performed at the River Run Centre Studio Theatre on April 9 at 8 p.m.

Tickets to Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears are $30 for adults, $28 for patrons over 60 years old, and $25 for those under 30. Sliding Scale tickets are available for $10 and $20. For more information or to purchase, call 519-763-3000, visit River Run’s Box Office at 35 Woolwich Street in Guelph, or go to https://riverrun.ca/whats-on/lilt-of-laughter-trace-of-tears/

70 years in the making

I am often asked, "how long did it take you to do this?"

Honest answer? For every artist "My whole life."

TICKETS HERE

Thursday April 9, 2026

What to expect at the Guelph River Run Centre, Thursday night, April 9, 2026

Master storyteller Jay Wilson invites you into a world of Irish wit, warmth, and wonder.

In Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears, Fiddler O’Flaherty, The Widow O’Donnell, Devlin Haggerty, Terrible Tom O’Malley—and even Frances O’Feline, the cat—share tales of mischief, heartbreak, and unexpected turns.

One night only: Thursday, April 9 at the Guelph River Run Centre.

TICKETS

In the spirit of the Irish West, where the Atlantic air sharpens the wit and softens the heart, these tales unfold with a lilt of laughter and a trace of tears. In villages not unlike those along the Connemara coast, bachelors debate the tourist trade, mothers defend their sons from marriage, widows guard their dignity, fiddlers lose their composure, and friends go to outrageous lengths to honour one of their own.

Told in a rich folkloric voice, these stories celebrate the stubborn loyalty, absurd bravery, and aching tenderness that bind ordinary people together. Expect roaring laughter, sudden hushes, and that familiar Irish alchemy that turns mischief into meaning. You’ll leave warmed, restored, and reminded that even our greatest foolishness is often rooted in love.

Guelph race for Mayor

Sometimes I take a break and just enjoy being silly.

Storytime in Elora

I'll be sharing a tale at this event. 

Who doesn't love bunnies and leprechauns?

Bearly A Hare, Jo-Anne Barclay Author and Courtney Truong Illustrator - the book (Bunny)

The Butter Maker of Connemara, Charlene Herrold Author, Jay Wilson Performer - storytelling (Leprechaun)

At Café Crêperie 40 Mill Street West one of my 'must stops' when visiting Elora

Thursday March 26, 5-8pm

Mmm that Latte looks delicious.

Springtime in Guelph 2026

As a cross country skier the transition from winter to spring is an emotional one for me. I love the quiet, clean, mosquito-free, crispness of winter and mourn its departure, while at the same time feel the joy associated with the coming warmth.

For years spring also signaled the coming of, what we in Ontario call, The Summer Theatre Season. Having worked in theatre administration for many years, spring was an exciting time. That hard work during fall and winter was about to pay off as announcements of the upcoming summer theatre season were launched.

Come celebrate this excitement with me this spring here in Guelph. Thursday April 9 I arrive at Guelph's River Run Centre Studio Theatre for a performance of my favourite show, Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears. Tickets here

I see this as the highlight of my theatre career and look forward to sharing these heartfelt stories penned by Charlene Herrold. 

Since you are a fan of JayWalking Theatre, (your reading this blog) here is a sneak peak of the new set for this show, constructed by Jim Hoare and expertly designed and painted by artist Robin Baird Lewis.

I hope you will join me for this performance. Your attendance will mean a lot to me as Charlene was a very close and long time family friend.

This show is part of the Showcase Series, which features one-of-a-kind, theatrical performances. It is proudly supported by River Run’s 2025/26 Season Sponsor, Richardson Wealth, as well as with funding from the Government of Canada.

Jay