Wing Night At The Boot Opens This Week

Decades worth of colourful stories and memories that have emerged from the Blyth Inn commercial tavern are captured in the Blyth Festival's Wing Night at the Boot, a play written by The Company, which opens Aug. 8.

"It's been a real community effort. The writers have teased stories out of a long list of people who have worked at or frequented the Blyth Inn over its impressive 141-year history. They've heard stories about the inn - affectionately known as 'The Boot' - that are outrageous, funny, poignant, and sometimes stranger than fiction. The stories are told from all different perspectives - owners and proprietors, waitresses and line cooks, bartenders, musicians and patrons, couples falling in love, rival ball teams out to settle the score, old timers reminiscing, local practical jokers out to pull a fast one, you name it," said Gil Garratt, who is the Blyth Festival's artistic director and co-creator of this play.

From the days when the rubber boots at the bar were still "fresh" from the barn, to dollar draft night, to snowmobilers, to fiddlers, to karaoke contests, Wing Night at the Boot celebrates and lampoons the Blyth Inn.

While the play is set in Blyth, the audience will never have had to set foot in the village or the Blyth Inn to see the humour.

"No matter where you're from, there's probably been a place like the Blyth Inn, or 'The Boot,' in your life," said Severn Thompson, the play's director and co-creator.

The Festival has a special treat for its audiences, giving patrons the opportunity to walk right onstage and buy a beer, served by the actors and Festival special guests, before the performances and during the intervals. Age of majority required.

"We want folks as welcome on the stage as they are in the bar. This is the Rubber Boot. You're right in there. For the run of this show, we're all regulars on the well-worn barstools," Garratt said.

Wing Night at the Boot is created and performed by Georgina Beaty, Graham Cuthbertson, Marion Day. Gil Garratt, Nathan Howe, Tony Munch, and Daniel Roberts, along with director Severn Thompson.

The creative team for Wing Night at the Boot is: Anita Nitoly, fight director; Jenna McCutchen, set designer; Jennifer Triemstra-Johnston, costume designer; Itai Erdal, lighting designer; and Heidi Chan, sound designer. Stage management by Christine Oakey and Daniel Oulton.

Reserve your seats for this uproarious story by calling the Box Office at 519.523.9300, Toll Free 1.877.862.5984 or online at blythfestival.com.

Blyth Festival acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council, Season Sponsor Sparlings Propane, and Season Media Sponsor CTV.

Media Sponsor of Wing Night at the Boot is Country 104.9. The Blyth Inn will host the opening night post-performance reception with its famous chicken wings.

Wing Night at the Boot | August 8 - September 15

Written by The Company | Directed by Severn Thompson

TICKETS: $40 orchestra | $36 balcony | $15 youth | (Previews: $18 adults | $15 youth)

BOX OFFICE: 519.523.9300 | Toll Free: 1.877.862.5984 | Online: www.blythfestival.com