A dreamy love story on stage … plus more local events

You’re reading the November 1, 2024 edition of the Peterborough Currents email newsletter. To receive our email newsletters straight to your inbox, sign up here.

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Good morning and welcome to the arts and community newsletter from Peterborough Currents. I’m Alex, and I send this email every Friday to catch you up on what’s happening in the community. 

In the newsletter this week:

• Mary’s Wedding at the Peterborough Theatre Guild
• Heritage Hunt inspires exploration on George Street
• Artspace printmaking fundraiser
• Celebrating Peterborough’s new fire station
• And more!

Let’s get started.

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Local stage production is an epic love story told through dreams

“Tomorrow is Mary’s wedding. Tonight is just a dream,” says Charlie at the beginning of Mary’s Wedding, which is currently playing at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. From there, the audience is plunged into Mary’s dreamscape. Justine Christensen plays the titular role, leading the theatre through Mary’s surreal, disjointed memories of Charlie, the farm boy she fell in love with, who is played by local actor Edward Sweeney. 

Written by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte, Mary’s Wedding has been staged over 100 times over the last two decades. It’s on stage at the Theatre Guild until closing night on November 9.

The production’s mood is light and playful at first, but turns stormy when Charlie is shipped off to fight in the First World War. Although Mary only witnesses Charlie’s experiences through his letters, in her dreams she takes the place of her love’s commanding officer, Lt. Gordon “Flowers” Flowerdew.

Lt. Flowers was a real Canadian officer, awarded the Victoria Cross for leading a charge at Moreuill Wood on March 30, 1918. Christensen seamlessly switches between her roles as Mary and Lt. Flowers without ever leaving the stage or changing her costume. 

“Doing research was really important to me because I didn’t know a lot about the war history and I wanted to do justice to Flowers,” Christensen told Currents following the play’s dress rehearsal on October 23. “I didn’t know what he would have sounded like, and figuring out how to quickly transition between these two characters meant I needed to sound and move differently.”

“This was by far the biggest role that I’ve ever done,” said co-star Sweeney. “Being onstage for 90 minutes at once with only two actors really challenged me.”

“In a weird way, Charlie is probably the most similar to me as a person than any character I’ve ever played,” Sweeney added. “This is just a young man falling in love and I can relate to that a lot.”

Sweeney said he hopes audiences enjoy the prop horse that features prominently in the play. He and Christensen spent time at a local farm with real horses to help them prepare for interacting believably with the constructed steed. 

“At the end of the day, I think this is another story about the futility of war and the tragedy of war and conflict,” Christensen said. “I hope people reflect on that when they see the play, and I also hope they just enjoy the cute parts.”

Mary’s Wedding plays on November 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit the Peterborough Theatre Guild website.

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Heritage Hunt challenges locals to spot details downtown

Peterborough’s Heritage Hunt is back, and locals have until November 29 to complete the hunt for a chance to win.

Each year, the Heritage Hunt presents participants with close-up photos of the architectural details of local heritage buildings. The aim is to take a stroll through Peterborough and find the buildings. Those who correctly match each image with the street address of the building and submit their findings to the city by November 29 will be entered for a chance to win a prize.

This year’s sites can all be found along George Street between Parkhill and King. Colin Walsh, the city’s heritage programs coordinator, said there are three “extra tough” bonus clues this year. “They’re still from George Street, but they will require some extra looking,” Walsh hinted.

Want to participate? There is an online form that will guide you through the hunt. There are also physical booklets available at City Hall and several other locations downtown.

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Printmaking activities tonight at Artspace

Artspace is open tonight (November 1) from 6 to 10 p.m. for a printmaking event as part of the First Friday PTBO Art Crawl.

The artist-run centre is hosting free printmaking activities all evening and will also be selling limited-edition prints as a fundraiser.

Local artists and Artspace board members Tim Laurin, Anne Pasek, and Aaron Robitaille worked together to create the prints. They called themselves the “space/art collective.”

“The space/art collective came together in an effort to raise funds for Artspace’s ongoing operations and to reflect on the 50-year history of the organization,” stated Pasek. “We hope our printmaking initiative allows art appreciators to enjoy an affordable addition to their art collection while supporting this important pillar of the local arts community. Everyone deserves to connect with art, and everyone deserves to make art.”

To learn more about this and other Art Crawl events taking place tonight, visit the First Friday PTBO Art Crawl website.

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PHOTOS: Peterborough celebrates new fire hall with open house

The City of Peterborough celebrated the opening of its new fire station yesterday afternoon. The station, which was built using federal funding, is the city’s first net-zero carbon and net-zero energy building, according to a city press release.

It’s located at the site of the former Northcrest Arena and is expected to be operational by the end of the year. It was built to replace Fire Station #2 on Carnegie Avenue. 

After speeches from local officials, members of the community were invited to explore the building. Local firefighters showed off the tools they use on the job, which was of particular interest to the youngsters in attendance.

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Looking for more to do?

• The annual Peterborough Pumpkin Parade is tonight (November 1). From 6 to 9 p.m., locals are invited to place their carved and lit pumpkins in line along the Rotary Trail between Hunter and Douro Streets.  
  
• Peterborough performers Garbageface and Normal Human Amount will join Havelock and Ottawa-based Horseman, Pass By in concert at Sadleir House tonight (November 1) from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets cost $20 at the door.
  
• The Khera family, owners of the Bhojan restaurant and grocery store and Bhojan Hindu Temple Society on George Street, will host a community meal for those separated from their loved ones during Diwali this year. They will open their restaurant for a free feast during the evening on November 2, and welcome people to stop by and celebrate together.
• Trent University alum Sandra Lamouche of Bigstone Cree Nation is back in Peterborough to perform Out of Wounds, her contemporary dance based on wagimauskigan (the diamond willow fungus), which grows out of the wounds of trees. Shows will be at 7 p.m. tonight (November 1) and tomorrow (November 2) at Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space.
  
• Harmony – a Community Singing Experience is back at the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough with their second event this Sunday, November 3, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Participants will learn to sing a song together as a pop-up choir led by musical director Abby Zotz. Tickets cost $30, or $15 for students and underwaged community members. 
  
• The grand finale event of One Book, One Peterborough is at Market Hall on Monday, November 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. The free event will include a visit from The Story of Us author Catherine Hernandez, as well as book readings, a live interview, and book signings. Online pre-registration is required.

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