The moment we entered the Tweed Pavilion, you could feel ‘It’ – the sense of anticipation. It was visible on the faces of the audience and seemed to hang in the air, floating in and around the vintage Edison lights hanging from the rafters. As we found our seats, excited chatter and authentic fiddle music filled the warm, summer air.
By the second verse of the first song, my right foot couldn’t control itself for another bar. That’s where the toe tapping, knee slapping and shoulder swaying began, and it didn’t stop until the final note rang out into the night. It was lively, fresh, sweet, funny and oh so impressive; it was hands down the most memorable theatre performance I have seen to date.
Not that you should need any, the raving reviews from the debut of this show last year really speak for themselves, but here are three reasons why you should scoop up tickets for a performance this season:
1. The Storytelling
Each character, each set, each line and each song was meticulously crafted to weave together the rich and interesting history of this beautiful county I call am lucky to call home. From the Loyalist and Rebel feud to Irish immigration, and from the first discovery of gold to the first agriculture fair the script references the unique events that have shaped the evolution of Hastings County.
2. The Musicianship
Each of the cast members played one, if not multiple, instruments and together they performed the score to each of the pieces. Live! Not only did they perform the pieces, but cast members also composed them. They lyrics were raw and the harmonies were layered making for a very powerful delivery of the story!
3. The Humour
I honestly have not laughed that hard in quite some time. While the entire play is comical and light, there is one character in particular (I won’t give anything away) that is beyond hilarious. The facial expressions, the gestures, the persona; all of it is executed with absolute perfection!
Not to mention, this year the show is hitting the road, which means you can discover the captivating story of Hastings while also exploring unique theatres in Bancroft, Perth, and Belleville.
So go, now, quickly, and grab a ticket to HASTINGS! The Musical, or discover the beauty of any lakeside performance at the Tweed Pavilion by checking out another Tweed & Company Theatre show this season.