Rope’s End Opens at the Blyth Festival July 29

The romantic comedy Rope's End by Douglas Bowie will open at the Blyth Festival on July 29. The production is the third play in the Festival's 2011 summer season.

Rope's End follows the story of Toby Boone, a forty-something loser, living in a rundown apartment, unlucky at love and everything else. Just as Toby reaches his rope's end, he stumbles across a photo of Marisa, his true love-and the written promise that they would one day reunite. The only problem is that thirty-one years have passed. When romantic fantasy collides with sober reality, Toby and Marisa face the toughest decisions of their lives.

Rope's End premiered at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque in 2006, and has since been produced by six theatre companies across Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.

Artistic Director Eric Coates says, "This is the perfect ‘date play' for a summer evening. It has romance, heartbreak, and plenty of laughs. Marion and Tony are a magnificent combination on stage."

Festival regular Marion Day (Hometown, Bordertown Café, Innocence Lost, Harvest) plays opposite Tony Munch (Hometown). Rope's End is directed by Lee MacDougall­­.

Preview performances of Rope's End run July 27-28, prior to the official opening on July 29. Rope's End plays at the Blyth Festival in repertory until August 27.

The Blyth Festival's 2011 season runs June 21 to August 27 and also features Hometown by the Hometown Collective, Vimy by Vern Thiessen, and Early August by Kate Lynch. For more information please visit www.blythfestival.com or call 1-877-862-5984.

Rope's End is sponsored by Ideal Supply and Napa Auto Parts. The Media Sponsor is CJCS 1240/The New FM 101.7 Stratford.

The 2011 season is sponsored by Sparling's Propane Company Limited, and the Season Media Sponsor is CTV.