Hurry to Port Stanley to see this Charmer
Reviewed by Sookie Mei
The novel idea of staging a play about curling in the middle of the summer turns out to be a good one, in the case of Port Stanley Festival Theatre’s latest production. Hurry Hard, by Canadian playwright Kristen Da Silva, is hilarious, touching, and definitely does not leave the audience feeling cold.
Set in winter at a curling club in Stayner, Ontario, an important regional bonspiel is coming up. Brothers Bill and Terry are on the men’s team, along with newcomer Johnny, and the guys begrudgingly share the ice with the women curlers, including Bill’s ex-wife Sandy and her friend Darlene. When a medical emergency leaves the men one player short, the two teams need to reconcile their differences to work as one if they have any hope of beating their rival team, Meaford.
The script is solid, with great characters, interesting dialogue, and an abundance of humour that has the audience laughing pretty much throughout. Da Silva melds comedy with very realistic life experiences – divorce, jealousy, aging, crushed dreams – and the result is a feel-good show that avoids too much broad humour or fluffiness. Some added romance rounds out the story quite nicely.
The set, designed by Dora award winner Joshua Quinlan, really looks and feels like a curling club. Photos of winning teams, pennants, and trophies decorate plain white walls with wood trim, and those ubiquitous vinyl and metal chairs with wooden armrests are placed around tables that are painted like the rings on the ice. The whole set has a lived-in and comfortable feel, like it’s been a club for decades.
As good as the set and script are, the cast is even better. Mark McGrinder as Bill hits the right balance between loss and hope as he interacts with his ex-wife and brother, as the dark days of their pasts butt up against the reality of the present moment. McGrinder’s easy charm and grounded portrayal allow the humour to come through naturally. Tyler Rive as Terry seems a bit forced right at the top of the show, but quickly settles into a more nuanced performance that embodies all of the character’s many facets. Erin MacKinnon is wonderful as Sandy, a strong, independent woman getting back to her dreams after the roughness of the divorce, and MacKinnon’s quick smile and down-to-earth personality shine through. Kate Gordon as Darlene, the very single new curler, is a joy to watch, turning the bawdiest of the characters into a three-dimensional person who has much more to offer than just jokes. And then there is Johnny, the newcomer to the group that is a real ladies’ man, played by Andrew Moore to perfection. Moore has a great face, excellent timing, and a sparkle in his eye that means he is in on all the jokes…it is as if this part was written for him.
Liz Gilroy has another success as director. The show has a great pace, with jokes flying right and left, but enough space in between to let them land. The characters are well-defined, the staging is natural, and the show ends with genuine emotion. There is an excellent montage of the curling team playing in the bonspiel, with excellent lighting by Karen Crichton, that steals the show. It’s wonderful to see Gilroy’s solid directorial hand shaping this production, and this season.
Playwright Kristen Da Silva also wrote last year’s hit at Port Stanley, Where You Are. About this production, she says “Writing Hurry Hard was the most fun I’ve ever had as a playwright, and I am so happy to see it staged at PSFT. I’m a fan of Liz Gilroy, who always directs big-hearted comedies that perfectly balance humour and humanity. She’s brought together a very talented cast for this show, and I can’t wait to see them hit the ice!”
Hurry Hard continues at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre (PSFT) until August 3rd. Tickets are available at the PSFT box office at 519-782-4353 or 1-855-782-4353, or visit https://psft.ca.
Photo: Tyler Rive, Mark McGrinder, Andrew Moore, Erin MacKinnon. Photo by Shutter Studio.
Hurray Hard
Written by Kristen Da Silva
Directed by Liz Gilroy
Stage Managed by Sandi Becker
Set Design by Joshua Quinlan
Lighting Design by Karen Crichton
Costumes by Alex Amini
Starring: Kate Gordon, Erin MacKinnon, Mark McGrinder, Andrew Moore, and Tyler Rive
Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Bridge Street, Port Stanley
July 17 – August 3, 2024
Reviewed by Sookie Mei