Ladner’s Genesis Theatre will open its 2018/19 season this weekend with Marion Bridge, a humorous and touching story of three estranged sisters returning home to Cape Breton to care for their dying mother.
Written by Daniel MacIvor and directed by Roy Surette, the play stars Nicola Cavendish, Lynda Boyd and Beatrice Zeilinger.
Boyd is an award-winning actor/singer with an extensive background in theatre, music, film and television. She starred as Rose Doyle in CBC's hit series Republic of Doyle for six seasons for which she garnered her third Canadian Screen Award nomination.
“Nicky Cavendish and I are good friends and I wanted to do a play again, so she said let’s do a play together,” said Boyd. “She found this play and it has taken a couple of years for us to find the dates. I’m thrilled to be starring in this. It’s a great production.”
Cavendish is an award-winning and well-seasoned actress, having spent 43 years performing across Canada. She was a member of the Shaw Theatre Festival for five seasons and appeared in the Broadway production of Blythe Spirit with Geraldine Page. She is well known for her signature role in Shirley Valentine, having performed it in 675 shows across the country.
Zeilinger is the recipient of three Jessie Richardson awards. She has toured North America, in particular with the award-winning The Number 14, and has worked with many local theatre companies. Most recently, she was seen in the Arts Club’s touring production of Mom’s The Word: Nest ½ Empty.
Surette said the entire team has done a wonderful job collaborating artistically and spiritually.
“Marion Bridge was first produced by Mulgrave Road Theatre in Guysborough, Nova Scotia exactly 20 years ago,” he said. “The story of how family members connect with each other and their community resonates as much now as when it was first written.”
Performances are Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 each, available at: http://connect37.deltasd.bc.ca or by phone at 604-940-5550.
