Final two shows at Blyth are passionate tales of human emotions

The two remaining shows at the Blyth Festival are passionate tales of human emotions that end tragically.

On now until Sept. 12, "The Fury" and "Mary's Wedding," are love stories set against very different backgrounds, but with the same dismal ending.

"The Fury," a world premiere for writer Peter Smith, with music by Samuel Sholdice, opened July 29 and is as delightful as it is tragic.

Set against the fury of the Great Storm of 1913, the story isn't about that deadly and destructive natural disaster, but focuses on a young woman's emotional struggle as she faces an arranged marriage while her heart belongs to another man.

Rachel Cairns is brilliant as that young woman, Margaret Mackey, whose guardian, Judge Cassidy (played beautifully by David Fox), wants her to marry an upwardly mobile young lawyer from Toronto. Stubborn and determined, Margaret instead falls in love with Michael Grey from the Town of Carlow, a notorious bootlegger and bare-knuckle boxer with a reputation for trouble-making.

Michael is also a gifted singer with a voice as clear and colourful as a Lake Huron sunset. What follows is a story of forbidden love, perseverance, and passion in the eye of the Great Storm of 1913.

Jeff Irving puts in a stellar performance as Michael Grey, with Keith Barker as the comic foil, Bernard Smoke, and Jason Chesworth as the Toronto lawyer, David Cooper.

Praise to Micheline Chevrier for directing this fast-paced dramatic comedy, on a remarkable set that is transformed quickly from a front porch to a dock, and then to a boat.

The second show, "Mary's Wedding," opened Aug. 5, and focuses on the beauty of love against the horror of war.
 

Young Mary Chalmers is getting married in the morning, but tonight in her dreams, Charlie is coming to see her one last time. Tonight, they will dream it all again: how they met in a summer rainstorm, how he taught her to ride a horse, how her mother tried to stand in their way, and how Charlie answered the call to join the Canadian cavalry in the fields of France. A love story set in the last days of Canada's innocence. 

Sophia Walker offers a tremendous performance as Mary, opposite Eli Ham who is fabulous as the shy and bashful Charlie. Walker has a duo role, playing the part of Charlie's commanding officer, Flowers, in the war scenes.

Mary and Charlie share a madcap adventure together until he leaves for France and never returns, and she's haunted with regret that she never said goodbye to him before he left.

As the stage went black, the opening night crowd jumped to its feet in a thunderous and well-deserved, standing ovation.

Great work by director Gil Garratt, Blyth's artistic director.

Both plays continue now until Sept. 12. Tickets are available by calling Blyth Festival's Box Office at 519-523-9300, toll-free at 1-877-862-5984 or on-line at blythfestival.com.