The curtain has officially risen on a brand-new Canadian play as a World Premier takes the stage at Port Stanley Festival Theatre.
goldfish, written by Stratford Festival veteran Steve Ross, opened last week in Port Stanley and continues its run until September 13th. The production stars Martha Farrell and John Dolan, both making their PSFT debuts, under the direction of Artistic Director Liz Gilroy.
Ross, who has spent more than 30 years performing, with 20 of those being at the Stratford Festival, says playwriting began as a creative outlet during the pandemic.
goldfish tells the story of Walter, a retiree living with a specific form of dementia, who spends his days on his front porch watching the world go by. His life changes when Shannon, a young mom who runs a daycare across the street, strikes up a daily conversation. What follows is a year of unlikely friendship, filled with humour, hard truths, and heartwarming moments.
The entire play unfolds on Walter’s front porch, notes Ross, with short, episodic scenes chronicling a year in their lives.
Ross says the story is also personal, as many of Walter’s anecdotes are taken directly from his late father.
Balancing moments of comedy with deeper themes, Ross says he wanted audiences to leave feeling uplifted, even while the play touches on the realities of dementia and loneliness.
Ross adds that at its heart, the play is a reminder of the value of human connection, and he hopes audiences leave with an important takeaway.
The play is also helping usher in new accessibility initiatives at the theatre, as a special ASL-interpreted performance will take place on Saturday, September 6th at both 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased through the theatre’s website or box office at 519-782-4353.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
