Elgin Theatre Guild Presents ‘Sylvia’ by Peri Hayes Director John Allen discusses Elgin Theatre Guild’s (ETG) presentation of A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia at the historic Princess Avenue Playhouse. John is also the current Vice President of the Elgin Theatre Guild, and is directing this production alongside Producer Timothy Hedden. John has been involved with the Elgin Theatre Guild for upward of 40 years, with a background in theatre since his high school career. In this production, characters Greg and Kate move to Manhattan when they meet ‘Sylvia’. John cheerfully recalls, “I did see this performed before and thought it was wonderful. I like the story of Sylvia . A.R Gurney uses the relationship between a man and his dog akin to having an affair, and exploring interesting concepts through the love of a pet.” Asked what personally excites John about this production, he confidently responds, “The cast is extraordinary. We have a lot of gifted actors from the area, a mix of seasoned and new. Heather May is playing Sylvia, an incredible comedic actress. Desmond Nanassy is playing Greg, which is exactly what is needed and juxtaposes Ellisha Joseph as Kate -- who does not want this dog in their life.” The cast also includes Paul Pickard as Tom, with Sile Ferguson playing Phyllis and Sandra Brown performing the role of Leslie. John shares that this production was adjudicated in the Western Ontario Drama League Festival, which was a valuable opportunity for the cast and crew to gain perspective for their ETG performances on the horizon.
John thoughtfully highlights, “Our Artistic Director has done a great job in choosing four plays for this season that are audience pleasers.” He also proudly details the ways in which ETG is determined to remain consistent while “rebranding” their theatre: “We have an enthusiastic Board, and have gone back to our former logo which better identifies the theatre.” Moreover, ETG hosted Business After 5 for the first time last month. John passionately voices, “It is important for us to be in the community and support other organizations.” Regarding their upcoming showcase, Sylvia is scheduled for March 13th until March 23rd at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with their Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm. This production, while of the comedy genre, does contain mature themes and is not suitable for younger audiences. Ticket purchase and inquiries are welcomed through the ETG website. John concludes with the following sentiment: “Tickets cost $25.00, which is a good bang for your buck! This is the beauty of community theatre -- it’s a gift.”
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Hometown St. Thomas • March 2025 • Page 39
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