There’s no such thing as a secret in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. That’s at the heart of the feel-good comedy “Halfway There” written by Canadian playwright Norm Foster, and it’s set to hit the stage with an all-star cast in four shows November 14 – 16 as part of the Taghum Hall Presents performance series.
Friends Vi, Rita, Mary Ellen, and Janine, who meet for coffee every day at the local diner, know everybody’s business. But when Sean, a heartbroken doctor, moves in to take a temporary job at the clinic, the Maritime town that’s famous for being halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, gets tipped off its axis—as do our four gossips.
“Want to laugh until your sides ache? Want to cry until your heart breaks? ‘Halfway There’ is Norm Foster at his most beguiling,” wrote Gary Smith in the Hamilton Spectator.
Brought to the local stage by PH Productions and Taghum Hall, the performance features an all-star cast, including Lindsay Clague, Robyn Lamb, Sydney Black, Avi Phillips, and Pat Henman, who is also co-director with Eva Myers-McKimm. Although the ensemble has worked together over the years, this is the first time all five have been on stage together as actors in one show.
“It is rare to find a good script with four female characters of different ages and backgrounds that come together in friendship and laughter. I thought, if I am laughing out loud while reading a script, I have to do it,” says Henman, who is delighted to work once again with Myers-McKimm.
Taghum Hall will debut its new riser system, which gives the Hall’s box stage an extra six feet beyond the stage edge. Michael Graham has come on board to design an intimate set representing Junior’s Diner in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. With Kyla Hurst as the stage manager and Dave Ingraham at the helm of all things technical, the cast and crew are excited to bring this critically successful comedy to everyone in the region.
“Partnering with Pat through PH Productions and having such exceptional local talent on our stage is a thrill,” says Taghum Hall Presents coordinator Heather Haake. “We’re all pretty excited.”
Taghum Hall is situated just 10 minutes west of Nelson. The play, which is appropriate for teens and adults, opens Thursday November 14th and runs to the 16th with evening shows at 7:30pm and a Saturday matinee on November 16th at 2pm. Tickets are $29 and may be purchased at Otter Books in Nelson, online at www.taghumhall.ca, and at the door.
Taghum Hall