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REGIONAL NEWSConnected to your communityStellar Canadian casts at upcoming Classic Theatre FestivalEMC Entertainment – From July12 to Sept. 1, the fourth season ofprofessional summer theatre inPerth, courtesy of the Classic TheatreFestival, features a variety ofreturning talent along with newfaces who have graced stages acrossthe country, in addition to considerablefilm, television and radio work.Early bird tickets are on sale untilJune 8, guaranteeing discountedtickets with the option of choosingdates later.Director Laurel Smith, who willhelm the comedic productions ofNeil Simon’s ‘The Star-SpangledGirl’ and Leslie Stevens’ ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’,is pleased withthe star power she has assembledthis summer to work alongside Ottawaset and lighting designer DavidMagladry, Mississippi Millscostume designer Renate Seiler, andlocal production manager NolanPopplewell.‘The Star-Spangled Girl’ (July 12to Aug. 4) could have been drawnfrom today’s headlines about the redstate/blue state divide that currentlyanimates much of the U.S. politicalculture. Simon, looking at a similarlypolarized America in 1966, createdthe story of two free-thinkingliberal magazine writers who fallfor a conservative southern belleand Olympic swimmer who’s aboutto marry a U.S. Marine.The “girl,” in this instance, isplayed by Kate Gordon, a regularat Upper Canada Playhouse whoreturns to the festival for a secondseason following her memorableturn as Gittel Mosca in last season’s‘Two for the Seesaw’. Gordon’scomic chops will be on full displayas she fends off the attentions of Ottawa’sRichard Gélinas, a celebratedveteran of the National Capital theatrescene (‘The 39 Steps’, ‘Stonesin His Pockets’, ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’,‘Eddie May Mysteries’), andTrevor Pease, who divides his timebetween TV and film (‘Nikita’, ‘Cybergeddon’)and stage (Upper CanadaRepertory Company, TheatreNew Brunswick, among others).“Simon is known for his sparklingdialogue, hilarious plots and lovablecharacters. ‘The Star-Spangled Girl’reflects the theme you see in a lotof his plays of opposites who attractbut who also have to work throughtheir differences to get along, justlike the sloppy/neat freak roles in‘The Odd Couple’ and the snarkyvaudeville veterans in ‘The SunshineBoys’,” says Smith.‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ (Aug.9 to Sept. 1) caused some stir onBroadway as it featured a happilymarried, brilliant academiccouple (one of whom is the Deanof Women) whose lives are turnedupside down by a Swedish blondebombshell who wants the husbandto father her baby so that the childinherits both beauty and brains. Thecouple is played by Scott Clarkson(who has previously performedcritically acclaimed star turns in thefestival’s productions of ‘The Fourposter’and ‘Two for the Seesaw’)Submitted photosThe Classic Theatre Festival in Perth, which runs from July 12 to Sept. 1has an impressive cast of Canadian actors set to visit town this summer.Above, Rachel Jones is back again this year after her unforgettable performanceof the title role in last summer’s ‘Mary, Mary’. Above, right,regular at Upper Canada Playhouse, Kate Gordon returns to the festivalfor a second season in Neil Simon’s ‘The Star-Spangled Girl’, runningfrom July 12 to Aug. 4.and Rachel Jones, who wowed audienceswith her unforgettable performanceof the title role in last summer’s‘Mary, Mary’.Tempting the professor will benewcomer Elisabeth Lagerlöf, agraduate of the legendary New YorkCity American Musical and DramaticAcademy who is equally at homeon stage (Theatre New Brunswick,Theatre Caravel) and film (‘Prey’,‘Beware the Pickpocket’, and theXBOX web series). Rounding outthe complicated shenanigans is alinguistics professor (who carriesa flame for the Dean of Women),See FESTIVAL page 42Christmasin JulyRunningevery secondweek inJune, July &AugustR0012136138_0606and Local Merchants togetherare offering readers a chance toWinOne of$500ContestStartsJuly 4th! All you have to do is fill out a ballot at one of the participating merchants. No purchasenecessary. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. All EMC decisions are final. Conteststarts on Thursday, July 4th, 2013 and ends on Wednesday, July 31th, 2012. Metroland/Performance Printing employees and families are not eligible.FourReaders will havea chance to win one of four$500 Shopping Sprees tobe given away.THE EMC - 40 - Thursday, June 6, 2013LIVINGSend your Senior ActivityEditorial Submissions to:aharding@perfprint.caor fax 613-283-9988Contact your Advertising Representative today at613-283-3182R0012136131_0530