Hudson Village Theatre Presents HARVEST, 6/13-6/29

Hudson Village Theatre (HVT) opens the 2013 summer season with the comedy, Harvest, by Canadian playwright Ken Cameron. The two-hander, which stars Glen Bowser and Karen Cromar, each playing multiple roles in both genders, previews June 12th and runs from June 13th to 29th.

A retired couple rent out their farmhouse to a "nice young man". When they return to check up on the old homestead, they notice strange things happening around the property. On further scrutiny they discover, to their horror, that their family home has been turned into a grow op for marijuana.

"We wanted to start the summer off with a fast-paced comedy and this one delivers in spades," says director and HVT Artistic Director, Heather Markgraf Lowe. She explains that, "this is storytelling with 'heightened characters'. Both actors must have their wits about them to tackle these roles as they each don many characters of all ages and backgrounds, which is where a lot of the humour is rooted."

The play is based on true events that happened to the playwright's parents and though grow
ops can have devastating consequences, through the two main characters Cameron takes a
broader, almost philosophic view of the situation. Hudson and Rigaud residents may especially relate to the play's premise since several grow ops have been discovered in the area in recent years.

Synchronicity played a role in Markgraf Lowe choosing this play to open the season. She was
going to Gananoque and the surrounding area specifically to scout out plays for Hudson. Quite by accident and much to her delight, she caught Harvest in Prince Edward County. She
remembered that Roy Surette, Centaur Theatre's Artistic Director, had recommended it to her in passing, saying it always got great reviews wherever it played. "But what I loved about it."

Markgraf Lowe admits, "is that the whole family can come to see it, from kids to great grandparents."

The set design is shared between two recent John Abbott Graduates, Fany Crochetière and
Anna Delfino. Costumes are by Karen Pearce, who did such stunning work for last summer's
season opener, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. Veteran designer, Bruce Lambie, creates the lighting and Mary Vuorela will stage manage.