Rosebud opens new mercantile, new season
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
It took nearly a decade, but Rosebud Centre was finally able to open their door, just in time for the 2011 season. The centre saw an expansion to Rosebud Theatre’s Mercantile dining room, allowing an extra 10,000 square feet of dining, shopping and meeting space.
“The architectural design of the Rosebud Mercantile, in an old-time bank and livery stable theme, is keeping with the unique heritage values of the hamlet of Rosebud,” said Bob Davis, Rosebud Theatre’s Executive Director.
“The facility will be an integral part of Rosebud’s renowned dining and theatre experience, the revenues of which help support the education and training of theatre artists from across Canada.”
Some of the areas are built with timber over 130 years old and saved from the CPR railway.
“It’s kind of nice that it’s been brought back to life,” said Davis.
It began as a five million dollar project, with coordinators raising four million before construction even began. In late August 2010, Encana donated another $150,000 to help with the project, donating $350,000 overall. The new centre provides a space for weddings and large gatherings. On March 25, opening night, one woman was already upstairs setting up for her daughters wedding.
The new dining area allows everyone to be seated at once for dinner, instead of having a line up of guests waiting. The official grand opening for the new centre will take place some time in May.
March 25 also marked opening night for the new season at Rosebud Theatre, and the first play of the season, ‘A Bright Particular Star.’ The play, written by Artistic Director of Pacific Theatre in Vancouver and playwright Ron Reed, is the story of 19th century writer George McDonald and his family, who inspired J.R.R Tolkien and C.S Lewis.
“Everything that is known about Lilia MacDonald, and the MacDonald family theatricals in general, is represented in the play,” said Reed, who was in attendance for opening night.
The script was first developed at the Lamb’s Players Writers Week in San Diego, and premiered as an Emerging Artist Showcase, as part of Pacific Theatre’s mainstage season in 2006. It also had a subsequent college production in Georgia in 2008. The story fits with all the known details of Lilia’s theatrical life, her relationships with Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, Octavia Hill, Kate Terry, Charles Granet de la Rue and, of course, her family, though the timeline is compressed.
The sometimes-dry humour scattered throughout the play had the audience laughing, all the while falling in love with Lilia and her plight.
“Wonderful performances. Lilia was absolutely radiant. There was no trouble seeing in her the same rising star that Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll and others also saw. I loved Mark Twain’s brilliantly dry wit, Octavia Hill’s wonderful enthusiasm and support for Lilia and Jenny. Jenny’s friendship for Lilia was wonderful, especially once it became more complicated in Act Two,” said Reed.
“George and Louisa MacDonald, Lilia’s parents, were beautifully paired (it’s) not hard to believe they’re a married couple offstage as well. George with all the impetuosity and enthusiasm of an overgrown boy, Louisa embodying both the tenderness of a loving mother and the toughness of a sergeant.”
Reed continued on to say there were many more highlights in all of the actors’ performances, that it was a wonderfully varied and committed cast that were a pleasure to watch. ‘A Bright Particular Star’ will be on the Rosebud Stage until May 14, and is a wonderful way to spend an evening.