#TheWestdale folklore CanadianHistory goldrushera folkmusic
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FRINGE REVIEWS 2022 - MINE! True Stories and Legends of the Porcupine Gold Rush
Writer/Performer: Will Gillespie
Producer/Stage Manager: Susan Robinson
Show dates, times and tickets available here: https://boxoffice.hftco.ca/event/866:574/
Content Warning: None
Will Gillespie has a particular knack for telling imaginative Canadian stories. His production company has brought Elvis Presley to a town in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Neil Diamond to a dive bar in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. In his newest production, we are guided on a musical journey through several harrowing, true-life stories of adventure and perseverance, from a unique (and often-overlooked) chapter of Canadian History.
This is a solo show with Gillespie (whose voice is perfect for folk songs) aided in no small part by producer/stage manager Susan Robinson who delivers her cues with precision. Another carefully researched show this year regarding Canadian history during our own goldrush era, there are stories accompanied by songs about dog sleds, air balloon near-disasters, an Indigenous princess, making moonshine in the bush, horrific fire storms and more.
At times, you really feel the enormous undertaking by Gillespie here. With the exception of the historical art and images projected behind him, he is doing everything on that large Westdale stage. Singing, storytelling, changing instruments and reaching for water whenever possible, Gillespie is a whirlwind of energy that doesn’t let up. He commands the stage and overall, carries through with confidence. Perhaps pre-recording some of the narrative or projecting pre-filmed elements would have helped Gillespie take a moment to collect himself before the next song and allowed the audience to watch the moments on the screen while learning more about the story about to be told.
As a new musical offering, it is a solid one. There’s a great deal of interesting stories, several of which audiences will be surprised to learn about. This type of history lesson is refreshingly engaging and as the show continues on to other cities after this, I am hopeful that these legends and stories inspire audiences to learn more. Worth seeing, especially if you are a fan of untold stories in our history.
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