Blyth's "Last Mayor of Rusty River" is entertaining but not realistic

By: Liz Dadson August 16, 2026 148

Blyth's "Last Mayor of Rusty River" is entertaining but not realistic

"The Last Mayor of Rusty River," on now at the Blyth Festival Theatre, is entertaining but not realistic. If its aim was to take a jab at local politics, during a municipal election year, it didn't go far enough.

The acting is stellar, with Benedict Campbell stealing the show as Larry, the over-bearing mayor of Rusty River, who is way past his best-before date.

Joining him on stage, are Larry's lap-dog deputy mayor Jerry, played perfectly by David Kirby; council members Tim and Tina, played by Cameron Laurie and Hallie Seline, respectively; council clerk Judy, played by Robin Craig; and Harmony the reporter, played by Brontae Hunter.

The premise is hilarious as mayor Larry, who has ruled the Town of Rusty River for way too long, finds himself under scrutiny by the younger councillors, Tim and Tina.

The show opens with council in closed session to discuss the burning issue of whether to declare a red squirrel or a chipmunk as the town's mascot. Both Tim and Tina are discouraged to find they have spent the past four years as part of a town council where nothing ever happens.

And the best news council can share with the reporter is that there will be a feasibility study to determine the rodent mascot!

As the municipal election nears, and they realize Larry is running for re-election, Tim and Tina come up with the brilliant idea of entering their own candidate, Tim's 19-year-old cat, Captain Whiskers!

Then, they discover that dear old mayor Larry has a direct conflict of interest but refuses to declare. There is bedlam at the council table, and even more at the candidate debate. And in the midst of all this is the running gag of a rooster crowing.

While the show is entertaining, it falls short of skewering small-town politics and the failed amalgamation experiment. Ultimately, we were expecting Royal Canadian Air Farce zingers and we got SCTV.

As someone who covers council meetings for a living, not a lot of this rings true, particularly the sexual gymnastics in the council chamber, and a long-time mayor who would simply concede his post before the final ballots are counted. The name of the play is also erroneous because there is no final mayor of Rusty River.

Directed by Gil Garratt, with music by John Powers, the show is entertaining, and the acting is stellar.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit blythfestival.com, or call the box office at 1-877-862-5984.