Lauchie, Liza and Rory debuts at the Bordmore Theatre

Sheldon Currie’s play Lauchie, Liza and Rory makes its debut at CBU’s Boardmore Theatre Playhouse on January 21, 2020.

“He brings the world that we lived in,” says director Todd Hiscock. “Traditional music, the Gaelic, hardworking people, that coal mining mentality built into the religion – it’s all there.

Lauchie, Liza and Rory is a play steeped in Cape Breton humour and complexities. Written by Sheldon Currie and adapted for the stage by Mary Colin Chisholm, this tale will make you laugh, amidst obligations of religion, family and the heart. As with Currie’s other works, including The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum, The Company Store and Down the Coaltown Road, Lauchie, Liza and Rory depicts a mining family living in both sides of a company house.

Actors Bryan Nash and Emma Francis bring to life eight characters during this delightful tale.

“I think for here,” says Nash who plays Lauchie and Rory, along with several other characters, “it’s a universal story that everyone can get a good laugh out of.”

Emma Francis plays Liza, Anne and also a handful of other characters. She’s never been in a comedy before and says she’s excited to share this story with the community.

“I think the audience will recognize these characters for sure — they know these characters; they have gotten themselves into relationships that maybe they shouldn’t have done and been stuck with family that maybe they wanted to throw out of the house,” Francis says with a chuckle.

The two actors never leave the stage, making seamless transition from character to character, sometimes line by line. Come witness two actors portray four people playing cards! Come hear a mother speak from beyond the grave through a picture frame. It’s a comedy layered with tough decisions. And that’s what Hiscock hopes theatre goers will take away. “It’s a complicated story, not just simple little unrequited love story.”

Hiscock says he also took into account the time of year when selecting this play to run in January. “We want to lighten things up for people to have a fun night of entertainment. Not only is it superb local content, but it’s quite funny, too.”

Lauchie, Liza and Rory opens Tuesday, January 21, at 7pm and runs evenings all that week, ending on Sunday the 26th with a 2pm matinee. For tickets call 902 563-1652.