New Musical LOST & FOUND Plays Piccolo Rialto Theatre, Now thru 2/22

Infinithéâtre's Artistic Director Guy Sprung will present the premiere of a new musical play, Lost & Found, playing at the Piccolo Rialto Theatre from tonight, Feb. 11-22. Written by and starring David Sherman as Victor and Nancy Lee as Tricia, the show features some of Montreal's finest, established musicians- Stephen Barry on bass, Andrew Cowan on guitar and John McColgan on drums. The Musical Director is the award-winning Erik West-Millette, a prolific, multi-disciplinary musician, composer and multimedia music director for film, theatre and radio.

Lost & Found finds two rehabbing romantics stepping gingerly along the road to true love, a path strewn with rusty nails and broken glass. Folk singers Victor and Tricia, bruised and sceptical, navigate potholes of memories and look to the future. Victor, trying to extricate himself from relationship inferno and an arrest, is left with only some clothes, his guitar and a fondness for blended whiskey.Tricia is caught up in her own prison, beset by memories of her late husband and a life of could-have-been. They meet in a café in the middle of nowhere- is music really the food of love? Their songs make up the musical Lost & Found, a tale of love found and lost and found again, propelled by a top-notch three-piece band. The story is seductive, the music a captivating and bluesy blend of folk, roots, country, pop, and rock and roll that combines Lee and Sherman's sweet and rough vocals with their soul-touching lyrics. Inspired by real life, Lost & Found is a work of fiction that creates an original sound that lingers long after the last note.

Artistic Director Guy Sprung notes, "David and Nancy use fictionalized elements of their personal story, sharing their own hopes and pain to create a unique docu-musical about love. The songs heighten the unfolding narrative and deepen the emotional impact." He continues, "Here, fiction is the lie that allows the truth to be revealed onstage." Cynicism in mortal combat with romanticism, Lost & Found is an antidote to Montreal winter- who needs a warm fire when you can experience the heat from the fusion of Nancy Lee and David Sherman.

Much like their docu-musical, Sherman and Lee met performing in a bar out of town. They liked each others' songs, liked each others' voices, liked each other. They started seeing each other, playing together, living together. Then they started writing together- poignant love songs in haunting harmony; finding love, hope and healing in the power of lyric, melody and each other's arms.

For Sherman, love is an eternal theme, always relevant, "When it seems the world is circling the drain, what's more important than an intimate partner's embrace and music to warm the soul? In Lost & Found, love is a fragile commodity that needs to be coveted, sheltered and cherished." For Lee, doing the play has cemented the idea that it's never too late for love and it's never too late to follow your dreams, "Life threw me some curve balls and at age 50 I had to make a new plan." She explains, "The piece is drawn from real life events so touches me very close to the heart. I am a widow. The songs were written as an emotional release from what was going on around me." It's easy for audiences to get behind Lee's perspective, "Love is a basic human need. I was raised in a loving, nurturing environment. I had a good marriage- if my husband hadn't become sick I have no doubt that I would still be married to him. As a result, I recognize it when I see it."

We both wear a bruise or two, but they're only flesh wounds; life's too short to walk away from you. -Why can't we be Friends by Sherman and Lee

Special events

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, purchase a ticket for Feb. 14 in advance and bring along someone close to your heart for free! Back by popular demand is pay-what-you-can Sunday matinees on Feb. 15 and 22. On Wed. Feb. 18 audiences are invited to stay after the show and have a drink and casual conversation with the artists. CDs for Lost & Found will be on sale during the run.

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