With the summer theatre season rapidly coming to a close, Globus Theatre at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon presents the final show of its summer season with Kristen Da Silva’s new romantic comedy Sugar Road.
Directed by Globus’ artistic director Sarah Quick, Sugar Road is a lovely little show filled with laughs, heart, and romance that defied all my expectations. In many ways, Sugar Road is the type of show made for summer theatre and is a perfect way to cap off the season.
Written by Oakville based playwright Kristen Da Silva, Sugar Road made its debut in October 2017 at Theatre Orangeville to positive reviews.
Globus’ Sugar Road is somewhat of a revival of that production, with Sarah Quick reprising her supporting role of brash country music fan Caroline Dawn, and actor Jake Simons returning to take on the romantic lead as country music heart throb Jesse Emberley.
Globus Theatre also obtained the elaborate set, special lighting, and spectacular artwork from the original production, all beautifully designed by Theatre Orangeville’s production designer Beckie Morris.
The result is a very different-looking show, making Globus’ presentation of Sugar Road something special.
Sugar Road follows Hannah Taylor (Tara Koehier) who, along with her lovable handyman Ray (James Barrett), struggles to keep her decaying amusement park Sugar Road open for business.
Handed down through three generations, Sugar Road is Hannah’s family’s legacy but, as beloved as the park is to her, it comes with its own share of bleak memories and personal heartbreak.
In an attempt to gain financial security to keep the park running, Hannah reluctantly decides to bring back the once-popular Spurs and Hearts Country Music Festival which at one time put Sugar Road on the map, but which Hannah ended when she took over the park upon the death of her mother.
To the great delight of Hannah’s best friend Caroline (Sarah Quick), the headliner of the festival is country music superstar Jesse Emberley (Jake Simons), who appeared at the final Spurs and Hearts festival 12 years before, when he was just starting out in the industry.
Caroline doesn’t understand Hannah’s disinterest in Jesse Emberley, but what Hannah isn’t telling anyone is that she and Jesse met the last time he rode through town in a magical night that conjured up emotions that hit to close to home. Now, with the crowds clamoring for Jesse Emberley, and a handsome singer sneaking around the amusement park on his own emotional mission, all roads are leading to a place and time that was left behind long ago.
For some people, country music is an acquired taste and I’ll admit that, with some notable exceptions, it’s a taste I haven’t acquired. Although Sugar Road features a country singer as the romantic lead, a lot of rural humour, and a country music festival as the backdrop of the show, it’s not about country music. It’s a wonderful show about magical summer nights, young love, generational loyalty, family secrets, and the cult of celebrity.
Anyone who has ever been a fan of someone or something, or who has had a brush with fame, will find something they can relate to in Sugar Road. But most of all, it’s a show that pulls on the heartstrings, much like a Hallmark TV movie — but with a lot more depth and much better acting.
If you don’t like country music, don’t let that dissuade you from seeing Sugar Road.. Of course, if you are a fan of country and everything that goes along with it, then why haven’t you bought your ticket yet? This show was written just for you!
Toronto-based actress Tara Koehler makes her Globus Theatre debut in the leading role of Hannah Taylor and gives a beautiful performance as a woman with a tender heart who has hardened it to protect her from the past. Tara creates a character who drifts between conflicting emotions while struggling to keep the wall around her heart standing. Due to the excitement of her friend Caroline, cracks in the wall begin to appear as Caroline continues to prattle on about Jesse Emberley.
What is interesting is how the show features different levels of generational drama, and how each generation’s story has created the wall around Caroline’s heart. This gives the character a certain emotional complexity that Tara is able to play with, and as a result gives the audience a character they come to care about deeply.
Meanwhile, there is something very special about Jake Simons and his portrayal of Jesse Emberley. Jake has this impressive presence as an actor that carries over to the character. Throughout the opening act, the character of Jesse is built up almost as an enigma, creating a mythical figure of the celebrity as being more than human. The great thing about Jesse is that he really is just a good guy with a big heart.
Jake has a natural star power that gives the character the larger-than-life presence it needs, but his easygoing charm also gives the character the heart that makes Jesse so real to the audience. It’s a great performance by an incredibly charismatic actor.
James Barrett transforms handyman Ray Bishop into the kind of character he plays so well. Big hearted, not too bright, protective, and harboring secrets of his own, often Ray is played as comic relief, but he also finds himself entangled in the drama of the past.
It’s a funny but tender role for James, who gives a solid supporting performance.
But it’s Sarah Quick who often gives the biggest performances as the brash and overzealous Caroline, who paints a fantasy picture of Jesse Emberley that collides with Hannah’s reality. With humour that’s often over the top, Sarah gives one of the funniest performances I’ve ever seen from her.
The highlight of the show is Sarah’s monologue at the end of the first act as she battles with a sleeping bag that has turned her into a human burrito. It may be the funniest thing I’ve seen on the stage so far in 2018.
Her scenes with Jake Simons are also hysterical, as she becomes the human embodiment of the crazed fan that lives in all of us.
I cannot express enough how much I fell in love with Sugar Road. I didn’t expect the show to capture my sometimes cynical heart as much as it did.
I also found it interesting how the show played with fandom and celebrity worship, and explored how celebrities are just people with their own stories to tell.
It made me reflect on the interactions I’ve had with famous people in the past — how real I found many of them, but also how I have romanticized some of those encounters over the years as well.
But mainly I couldn’t help but get caught up in the sweet love story, and find that special magic that exists at Sugar Road.
The summer theatre in the Kawarthas has been extraordinarily good this year, and I’ve seen winner after winner over the past few months. If you’ve been waiting for a show with a perfect combination of laughter, romance, and heart, then Sugar Road is the one for you. Make the Lakeview Arts Barn your destination for a memorable night of theatre that you don’t want to miss.
Sugar Road runs until Saturday, September 1st at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon. Shows start at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday, August 25th and Thursday, August 30th. A three-course table d’hôte menu is available at 6 p.m. prior to every evening performance. Tickets are $34.50 for the show only, or $71 if you want the dinner and the show. For tickets, visit the box office at Lakeview Arts Barn or call 1-800-304-7897 or 705-738-2037.
