MANITOWANING—More than most live theatre production companies, Burns Wharf Theatre Players has faced challenges. First the loss of its namesake theatre due to safety and accessibility concerns atop the Burns Wharf Roller Mills, then the impact of the pandemic on large gatherings. But any suggestion that the troupe has sang its last is highly exaggerated.
True, the recent illness of a family member of director Ray Scott has forced moving the production to the fall rather than the planned late spring, early summer, but those involved in this year’s planned production insist that the show will go on.
“Burns Wharf Theatre Players (BWTP) will be performing its first show since the onset of the pandemic,” shared long-time pillar of the musical troupe Marilyn Wohlberg. “There is no way we could have pulled it off for the beginning of June like we originally planned.”
Still, Ms. Wohlberg said the wait would be worth the effort. “Audiences will love the musical revue ‘Closer Than Ever’ created by Broadway superstars Maltby and Shire,” she said. “They will be blown away!”
Although BWTP is best known for its Gilbert and Sullivan revivals, this year’s production steps away from that stream, for the time being.
“It is really challenging to mount a show with 25 people banded together on stage,” she said, “especially given the ongoing pandemic.” With ‘Closer Than Ever’ there are only ever four people onstage at the same time, with a cast of 10 to 12.”
Also setting the show apart is that there will be no dialogue. “Just wonderful pieces of music about relationships,” said Ms. Wohlberg. “It is so different than anything BWTP have done before.”
The originally planned venue for the show was Manitoulin Secondary School, but Ms. Wohlberg said that is now “to be determined.”
The revue ‘Closer Than Ever’ will feature many familiar cast members from past BWTP shows, as well as some new faces, noted Ms. Wohlberg.
The play will be stage directed by Kayla Simbirski, musically directed by Ray Scott and produced by Lynne Dee Sproule (daughter of that most redoubtable dame of local theatre Sharon Sproule). The show is licensed through Musical Theatre International and is rated PG-13.
