One of the most successful plays in Theatre By the Bay’s existence returns this year and just in time for Canada 150’s Remembrance Day.
We Must Have More Men will be performed at the Trinity Anglican Church and Base Borden’s Terra Theatre. Iain Moggach is the assistant director for the play and says that everyone at TBTB is ecstatic that the war-themed production will be back and credits the play with the direction the company has now.
“The whole company is very excited that We Must Have More Men is coming back in time to finish Canada 150 celebrations no less,” said Moggach. “It’s a great tribute to our nation’s military history but also to our local history. Last year we received tons of positive feedback on the play and it really was the catalyst for doing more shows on our city’s history. Our recent production of The Five Points was a direct result of this and we will be more focused on shows like it.”
We Must Have More Men is the story of Barrie’s involvement in World War I from the personal notes of soldiers who fought in it. To prepare for the play, TBTB members searched through old newspapers and historical files for stories from all over Simcoe County and found many that tell how this city produced heroes that came to the defence of the nation in the Great War. Moggach says that after researching for the play, he looks around the city a lot differently now.
“The really cool thing was finding names from back then that match local spots today,” said Moggach. “There was a gentleman named Ernest Hanmer who lent his name to the street by Toys R Us on the north end and the name Livingstone was also prominent during the recruitment process. It was like taking a history class that we just couldn’t get enough of.”
WMHMM has a traditional narrative format and is not only going to entertain but for those teachers looking for a day out of the classroom, it is going to educate as well. With performances on selected dates being morning and evening, local schools have already begun getting tickets to the shows and the assistant director encourages more to contact TBTB to get on board for this history lesson.
“Right now we have approximately 1,000 students signed up for the shows,” said Moggach. “With all the dates we have lined up we have room for much more and I would love to set something up with teachers on this. Last year we had a teenager who was moved to tears while watching; this will bring history alive for the kids and the adults alike. When the teens realize that kids their age went to war, it really hits them. There’s the story of Jack Fitsell who was 15 years old and lied about his age so he could go fight; last year when we showed the play his son and family were here to see it; it was an amazing moment for everyone.”
As an actor himself, Moggach says that for every performance you must get right into the character you’re playing. WMHMM did that for the cast and the honour of performing really hit home for all of them afterwards when they were complimented, in their opinion, to the highest level.
“The Grey Simcoe Foresters were blown away by it and gave us great feedback,” said Moggach. “That was a huge moment for us and then shortly after that Base Borden contacted us to have it on the base this year which tells you that it definitely hits a chord with everyone.”
Moggach stresses how the play will have something for everyone and tells those coming to it after seeing last year that they will likely see a couple new bits this time around. Despite the name of the production, Moggach also points out that equally as important in this era were the women of Barrie and theatre-goers will be delighted at the actions of one lady in particular.
“Justina Calderwood rejuvenated the Red Cross in the area and went on to become the President of it from 1914-1918,” said Moggach. “You’re going to be entertained but by the time you leave you’ll realize just how many heroes this city has had.”
The production begins Nov. 1 and wraps up Nov. 18. Tickets are $25 and for all other information, please refer to the website.
November 1-18, 2017
Trinity Anglican Church dates:
November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 at 10 a.m.
November 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Terra Theatre (Base Borden) dates:
November 15, 16, 17 at 10 a.m.
November 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m.
