by Aaron Corbett
For years there have been rumours, stories and pictures telling the tale of a ghost haunting The Savoy Theatre. Now, there is a dinner theatre doing the very same thing. The Ghost of the Savoy is a brand new show running this summer that will make you laugh and scream while also enjoying great food and music all at the same time.
The story follows the band “Pittsburgh”; an ’80s rock tribute group whose dream is to play their first big gig at The Savoy. After finally getting that opportunity, the new artistic director Eva Tokillamochingbird (played by Gayle Lahey) decides she has made a mistake by booking the band since nobody showed up for their performance. In order to make any money from the show, Eva must convince Pittsburgh to leave so she can bring in a bigger act. All the while, the band hears strange noises making them believe the legend is true. Should they listen to Eva and leave now? Should they stay and finish their biggest gig ever? Or should they take their chance and possibly run into the ghost?!?
The Ghost of the Savoy follows the venue’s very successful dinner theatre, The No Class Reunion which ran during the spring and into July. Both shows were written by the cast and Glace Bay native Colin Appleton, who produced the entire project. Appleton has been performing for 13 years and has written his fair share of dinner theatres. He co-wrote A Christmas at the Causeway, Scrooged Harbour and also Art and Paul: The Show They Never Gave where Colin played Paul Simon.
Appleton, who returned to Glace Bay to work on the project, says, “Everybody back home has a great sense of humour…I love writing for hometown crowds.” When asked about working on the second show this season he replies, “Writing the second show was great because we learned where people’s strengths were and really added that to the new show.”
The manager of The Savoy Theatre, Pam Leader, was interested in doing this style of show right away when she took on the new job: “I have been working in dinner theatres for over 20 years now,” Leader recalls, “I really wanted to utilize the studio space.” While talking about how the project is progressing, she states, “It’s been very successful…The audiences have met our expectations and we really look forward to growing a new crowd.”
The Cast is made up of Gayle Lahey, Brittany Ellsworth, Justin Boutillier, Matt MacIsaac, Paul Campbell, Nikki MacLean and Holly Reid. “They are all young Cape Breton performers who are getting a chance to work on the Island”, says Leader. “It is great to see them get to do what they love.”
The Ghost of the Savoy opens July 30th and runs throughout the rest of the summer. Tickets (which include a three course meal) can be purchased at The Savoy box office in person or by calling 842-1577.
