Curtain soon to rise on 'Harvest Moon Rising'

No farmer, no food; it seems like an easy equation. Yet, in the internet age, it’s a reality that’s lost on many of us in Canada, which is why South Simcoe Theatre, a venue not far from rural areas, is presenting the Leslie Arden musical play Harvest Moon Rising.

The play centres on the loss of a family farm, an occurrence all too frequent in Canada. Regina Smith, who is staging the play, has a simple, blunt explanation: “Greed and short-sightedness.”

Musicals usually originate from Broadway or London’s West End, but Smith says setting such a story to music and putting it on here is not so intimidating as one might think.

“One of the best things about community theatre,” Smith tells BarrieToday, “is that it brings the experience of live performance at a very reasonable price to our own people who may not be drawn to the blockbusters in downtown Toronto.”

More than that, “the Barrie area loves our musicals. On top of that, they are wonderful for those of us who want to get involved in the storytelling itself.”

One of the more moving of Arden’s song – and Smith’s favourite – is called The Sun Never Quite Makes it Through.

“All five of our women are singing this song which speaks of the loneliness and the strength of the people who have built our farming community. The harmonies give me goose bumps.

"I also love Jack's Prayer. Jack is facing losing his family's farm and he is scared and angry. Darryn Stephen brings power and beauty to his conflict with God.”

One of the better qualities of this production is its ensemble feel. “Each of our characters has a solo and the story could not be told without even one of them.”

And keeping the tunes rolling is musical director Renee Cingolani, of whom Smith effuses, “I think the cast would absolutely agree with me if I say that she is our shining star.

“Leslie Arden writes beautiful, complex music with really surprising turns and harmonies, and Renee makes it all work for us. She is also our pianist for all of our performances, and I am so grateful to her students who have had to work around our needs for Renee for the last several weeks.”

South Simcoe Theatre’s production of Harvest Moon Rising runs April 12 through 29 at 1 Hamilton St. in Cookstown. To learn more, click here.