Opening night went off without a hitch, but there’s still a chance to get tickets to A Scandal for All Seasons, a locally produced comedy in the midst of its week-long run at Simcoe Street Theatre in Collingwood, followed by shows in Barrie.
The politically themed satire – produced by Barrie-based Theatre by the Bay and taken to Collingwood through a partnership with Theatre Collingwood – will be running from now until Aug. 6 in Collingwood before moving on to a Barrie run from Aug. 10-21.
Iain Moggach, the director of the show who also serves as artistic director of Theatre by the Bay, says the themes are especially relevant during an election year.
“I loved the concept. (Writer) Burke (Campbell) and I worked on it for a couple of years. When he pitched it to me, I told him it needed to go out in 2022, because that’s when the municipal elections will be. It will be on people’s minds,” Moggach said. “That’s when we should drop this crazy farce about municipal politics.”
A Scandal for All Seasons is set in Barrie and tells the story of rich socialites Doris Lester and Augusta Peacock, who form an unlikely alliance to promote the mayor’s progressive agenda and get him re-elected.
Biff Worthington, Barrie’s young, handsome and athletic mayor, wants to rocket Barrie from a safe, cozy small town into a bustling grand metropolis. Instead, the city’s ultra-conservative forces try to foil Biff at every turn.
“We live in a time of such political dichotomy. It’s very polarized right now,” Moggach said. “The idea of doing a comedy about municipal politics where people of all backgrounds sit together and hopefully laugh and live in it, I think is something that is really valuable.”
Jonathon LeRose will be performing the role of Mayor Biff Worthington. LeRose began acting professionally in the CBS series Salvation. Audiences may recognize him for his notable performance as Dirk in Bell Crave TV's hit show Letterkenny.
With a 25-year performance career encompassing roles in local and regional theatre, film and television, Lynn Weintraub is taking on the role of socialite Augusta Peacock.
Elana Post plays Doris Lester. Post’s career began when she appeared in the 1993 Stratford Festival production of The Mikado and has since become a director, writer, producer, and award-winning actor.
Moggach says this isn’t the first time Theatre by the Bay has brought a Barrie show to Collingwood audiences, and he enjoys seeing which parts of shows land differently in the southern Georgian Bay town.
“It’s a little bit different, but still relevant enough that people get it because Barrie is not so far away. I really think Collingwood audiences will get a lot out of it,” he said. “Who doesn’t love poking fun at their municipal neighbours?”
Theatre by the Bay has brought multiple shows to the area over the past few years that seek to tackle locally driven issues.
When asked why it’s important to the company to make commentary in this way, Moggach says the reasoning behind it is a practical one.
“Our audiences are people specifically from this region,” Moggach said. “We feel that theatre can be our way to contribute to these stories and bring people together.”
Tickets for the Collingwood dates at Simcoe Street Theatre can be purchased online here, by calling Theatre Collingwood’s box office, or can be purchased at the door.
Tickets to the Barrie dates at Five Points Theatre can be purchased by clicking here.
