Gibson and Sons bring fun to the funeral parlour 

Stage comedy kicks off guild's 5oth anniversary season

 

HARRISTON  –  It may be set in a funeral home, but there’s plenty of fun in store for audiences of the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild’s (GWTG)  upcoming production of Gibson and Sons.

The show is the first production in the guild’s 50th anniversary season.

Action in the Kristen DaSilva comedy is based on what happens at a family-owned funeral home when a brand new competitor opens next door, explains director Caroline Wollis.

Helping his father save their struggling small-town establishment has gotten in the way of Harry Gibson’s love life.

 “He decides that he needs a wife and has an odd way of finding one,” says Wollis, a Mount Forest resident who has directed several past GWTG productions.

Family dynamics and culture shock come into play as Harry’s prospective bride and her acerbic older sister arrive to complicate the lives of Harry and his family.

While there are moments of heartfelt drama, Wollis notes, “There’s a lot of humor and it’s a fun, action-packed play.”

The cast includes Kelly Bray-Dunning of Clifford, Jason Rohrback of Ayton, Brent Jemmett of Listowel, Naomi Roberts of Mount Forest, Jessica Pinkse of Minto and Harriston residents Shayne Coffin and Megan Raftis.

Gibson and sons runs April 26, 27, May 3 and May 4 at  7:30pm and April 28 and May 5 at 2pm at the fully accessible Harriston Town Hall Theatre, 68, Elora Street South, Harriston.

Tickets, $20, are available at Harriston Home Hardware and Walsh’s IDA in Mount Forest or through Eventbrite at greywellingtontheatre.com. Tickets also available at the door or reserve at 519-338-2778 or gwtheatreguild@gmail.com.

 

50th anniversary season

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Gibson and Sons is part of the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild’s 50th anniversary season, which will also feature a variety show in June, a dinner/cabaret in September and a major musical production, Anne of Green Gables, which will run from Nov. 22 to Dec. 7. 

“It’s an incredible milestone. Our guild was one of the first theatre companies in this area,” said GWTG president Peggy Raftis.

“It’s a tribute to Patrick Smith, who started the GWTG back in 1974, that we’re still putting on high quality productions and giving people of all ages the chance to experience live theatre and  be involved through our regular shows, special productions, summer youth theatre and other programs,” she added.

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For more information go to: greywellingtontheatre.com.