Photo Credit: Andrew Rowat
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Among the wonderful events that make for a spectacular summer, you can look forward to the return of the Capitol Theatre Summer Season in Port Hope.
And because COVID-19 has forced a two-year interruption in this beloved tradition, Artistic Producer Rob Kempson was determined that this one would really be something extraordinary, having secured what he termed “some pretty big all-stars” for both onstage magic and behind the scenes.
“I scoured the country, making sure we got invitations out to the best folks from Charlottetown to Victoria,” Kempson said.
And to kick the summer off, he is very excited to be starting rehearsals for the first production of the series – A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline.
It’s not just the opportunity to re-experience the sounds of the country-music legend whose career was cut short by a 1963 airplane crash that makes this production something to look forward to, Kempson said. It’s the chance to see the first-ever BIPOC actor play the title role.
“It’s one of our strategic directions at the Capitol Theatre – diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as artistic excellence. Michelle Bouey is the right person for the role, with a voice that will send people to the gods,” Kempson said.
“It’s the right move for where we are at our journey in the world, and Michelle is the right person for the role. I am really excited about that show, really excited to have her here at the Capitol and excited to share her talent with the audience.”
He is also looking forward to directing this two-person show (the other actor being Tyler Murree in the role of Little Big Man).
“We have a full professional design team, some beautiful costumes and sets, and it plays June 3 to 26,” Kempson said.
A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline will be followed by Stag & Doe, which he calls a hilarious farce about small-town living.
Imagine a hall booked for a pre-wedding party, and a wedding party that ends up at the same venue when their tent blows away in a storm.
“Add in a very, very angry left-at-the-alter maid of honour and a very confused caterer,” Kempson said, declaring it the perfect recipe for the perfect farce.
“It was first produced for the Blyth Festival in Blyth, Ontario, in 2014 and it’s gone on to be one of the most-produced play in Ontario.”
Kempson loves the authenticity that author Mark Crawford – who is from a small Ontario town himself – brings to the script. And director Janine Robinson, a York University professor, is one of the most lauded actors and directors in Canada.
“If Jell-O shots are a major plot point, I think you have found a winner,” he predicted.
Stag & Doe runs from July 6 to 31, and will be followed by 9 To 5 The Musical to wind things up from Aug. 4 to Sept. 4. The book is by Patricia Resnick, who wrote the script for the 1980 movie. And, of course, the music is by Dolly Parton.
“I am a huge Dolly Parton fan, and a huge fan of this show,” Kempson stated.
“I am so excited we were able to secure the rights, which was a bit of a journey, and I will be directing a cast of 14.
“It’s an amazing story based on the hit film – there’s no recipe better than that. It’s fall-over funny, but also heartfelt and beautiful.”
The female-empowerment angle is played in a very positive way, he added, “upholding the values of women and women’s rights, but in a way that is really fun and funny.”
Kempson sees it as an opportunity to move the needle to a more progressive place in a delightful way that engages the audience. And that’s one of the beautiful things about the theatre, he said.
“When I sit in the theatre, I am sitting beside someone who is different than me, a different age, a different gender, a different background, a different perspective – probably votes differently from me. That we are together to share in an artistic experience is the magic of theatre.”
Kempson started in his position at the Capitol part-time last July and went full-time in October. He acknowledges that he took on the legacy of a very beloved part of the community.
“It’s really important for me not only to uphold it but to do better. I want the shows to be the absolute best they can be,” he said.
And aside from giving the audiences a memorable experience, the Capitol is giving them even more – like their first-time-ever subscription offer.
“You can buy a ticket to all three shows for $120, because we want to reward people who are coming back,” he said.
“We are really excited to have subscriptions on sale, and the response has been amazing.”
The subscriptions offer flexibility in one’s choice of show time, and another bonus – a 10% discount on tickets you buy to other Capitol offerings, from concerts and cabarets to the magic show in the Sculthorpe Theatre.
Kempson is also giving Capitol audiences the safest possible experience. The COVID that forced the cancellation of the last two summer seasons is still with us, he noted. In fact, at the time of the interview, Kempson had three staff members off sick. This is why they are sticking with masking mandates, proof-of-vaccination requirements and distancing.
“It’s a hard choice,” he admitted.
“It’s about feelings of safety. We want people to feel that they are safe, we want people to know we are doing everything in our power to keep them safe. For us, to do that means proof of vaccination, masking at all times unless immediately eating or drinking, and keeping some space.”
This is not only for the audience, he pointed out. This is for the safety of the unmasked actors onstage who are billeting in the community and expecting to perform every night. They deserve to be kept safe as well.
“We have all the tools to be as safe as we can, and we will be using those tools,” he stated.
While the distancing requirement will not change, the Capitol board of directors is constantly assessing and reassessing the other two requirements – if they change, he said, this will be communicated immediately. And in that case, if ticket holders have concerns, they will attempt to accommodate them.
