(2017) 4th Line Theatre Company – Idyllic, Rural, and Quintessentially Canadian
Under The Sun – Photo by Heather Maxwell
Each year the 4th Line Theatre Company presents Canadian plays – written by and about Canadians; small town stories or broad national sagas that touch a nerve in all of us. This year 4th Line Theatre is thrilled to be presenting two world premieres: David S. Craig’s new play Bombers: Reaping The Whirlwind, directed by award-winning director David Ferry; and the highly anticipated The History Of Drinking In Cavan, written and directed by 4th Line Theatre’s Founder and Creative Director Robert Winslow.
Bombers Reaping the Whirlwind – Halifax image
Bombers: Reaping the Whirlwind, will kick off the theatre’s 26th Summer Season on July 4th. Bombers is the story of young Peter Benton, a Canadian heavy bomber pilot who flew the flak and fighter filled skies over Germany during WWII. Drawing directly from the experiences of Canadian flight crews, Bombers places the audience directly into the training, the camaraderie, the passion and ultimately into a Lancaster bomber as the young crew of Canadian boys drop their bombs over the burning fires of ‘the big city’ – Berlin. Bombers: Reaping The Whirlwind will star Robert Winslow as present day Peter Benton. Winslow is making his return to the 4th Line stage after a hiatus in 2016. Bombers also features Michael Cox as young Peter Benton, Colin Doyle, Erin Humphry, Shaina Silver-Baird and Deb Williams.
The History of Drinking in Cavan looks at alcohol consumption or the lack thereof in the local area over the past 200 years. Robert Winslow and his alter-ego, King, take the audience on a wild historical ride from the early days of Irish settlement in the township through to present-day drinking practices. The play veers
Robert Winslow in 4th Line Theatre’s 2012 production of Queen Marie. Photo by Wayne Eardley -Brookside Studio
from the anecdotal to the psychological, from the outrageous to the serious as Winslow shares the rich stories of local residents alongside his own life experience. The History of Drinking in Cavan will feature a cast of 12 professional and volunteer actors playing over 30 characters. Robert Winslowwill star as himself and narrate as his alter-ego, King, and be joined onstage by renowned Canadian actors Shelley Simester (who played Marie Dressler in the 2012 production of Queen Marie) and Edward Belanger (who played Dane Swain in the 2011 production of The Cavan Blazers).
Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell is thrilled to open the season with Bombers, “I am thrilled to share these two world premiere plays with audiences. Both plays have been developed through our New Play Development program and honour our regional, historical mandate and are the perfect way for us to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.”
4th Line Theatre – Barn & Daisies – Photo by Wayne Eardley
Bombers: Reaping the Whirlwind
By David S. Craig
Directed by David Ferry
July 6 – July 28
Previews: July 4-5
Opening Night: Thursday July 6
Tuesday to Saturday at 6 pm
Additional performance Monday, July 24, 2017
The History of Drinking in Cavan
By Robert Winslow
Directed by Robert Winslow
August 7 – 26
Previews: August 5, 6
Opening Night: Wednesday, August 7
Monday to Saturday at 6 pm
Tickets, gift certificates and picnics for 4th Line Theatre’s 2017 summer season can be purchased by phone (705-932-4445), online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, at 4th Line Theatre’s Box Office at 4 Tupper Street, Millbrook or at the ticket outlet at the Peterborough Museum & Archives on Armour Hill, in Peterborough (705-743-5180).