4th Line Theatre Production 'The Cavan Blazers' Looking For Antique Items

4th Line Theatre is looking for several items to use in the upcoming production of ‘The Cavan Blazers,’ set in 1854. 

photo courtesy of 4th line theatre.

Those who are interested in lending or donating any of the following items or have any questions, contact the theatre via email.

  • Rosaries

  • Fabric - 4 yards+ pieces of quilting cotton or cotton/polyester mixes

  • Wine skin

  • Camouflage/green khaki military-style clothing and accessories

  • Carpet bag

  • Leather pouches, belts and accessories & knitted scarves/shawls

  • Horse whip

  • 3 medium size whiskey jugs (10-12" tall)

  • Antique-style lantern

  • 2 Antique-style adzes

  • Cast Iron Pot with handle

  • Antique-style garden hoe

This drama chronicles the religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Violence erupts when a Protestant vigilante gang known as the Cavan Blazers tries to stop a Catholic settlement from being established.

This production will run from August 1 to 26 and tickets for the 2023 season can be purchased at the Box Office (9 Tupper St., Millbrook) or online.

For more information on donating or lending items, visit the website.

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‘The Cavan Blazers’ Is Back By Popular Demand at 4th Line Theatre This August

4th Line Theatre is presenting a remount of its flagship play ‘The Cavan Blazers’ by Robert Winslow, coming back by popular demand this August for the theatre’s 31st summer season.

photo courtesy of 4th line theatre.

The Cavan Blazers was the first play produced by the newly-formed 4th Line Theatre in 1992. Its epic scale, including a cast of 44 actors, horses, chickens, fire and fights, established the theatre’s long-time aesthetic of presenting epic theatre on the outdoor stages at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, Ontario.

The play explores the settler experience and what happens when the old hurts and angers from the homeland are brought over to a new country. The Cavan Blazers chronicles the religious conflict between the Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Violence erupts when a Protestant vigilante gang known as the Cavan Blazers tries to stop a Catholic Settlement from being established. This gritty and intense play will have the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

“The story inside The Cavan Blazers is one as old as time and as modern as the recent conflicts in Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Ukraine. It is a cautionary story of what can happen when people become entrenched in a way of thinking and are then unable to free themselves from that thinking,” said 4th Line’s managing artistic director Kim Blackwell.

Returning to the 4th Line stage in The Cavan Blazers are JD “Jack” Nicholsen as Patrick Maguire, Colin A. Doyle as Dane Swain, Thomas Fournier as Charles McCarty, Matt Gilbert as Father Phelan, Justin Hiscox as Elijah Coe, Mark Hiscox as Thomas Rutherford, Ken Houston as a horse rider and King William of Orange, Robert Morrison as William Grandy, Kelsey Powell as William Armstrong and Julia Scaringi as Martha Cooney. 4th Line Founder, playwright and actor Robert Winslow will portray Justice John Knowlsen. The Cavan Blazers will feature actress Katherine Cullen as Ann Maguire, and musician Jason Edmunds, making their 4th Line debuts this August.

Community volunteer actors include: Indigo Chesser, Jasper Chesser, Michelle Chesser, Logan Coombes, Lily Cullen, Peter Dolinski, Michael Field, Andria Fisher, Cadence Fisher, Eli Fisher, Linda Gendron, Sierra Gibb-Khan, Cody Inglis, Josh Lambert, Adrianna Malloy, Deirbhile MacQuarrie, Caoimhe MacQuarrie, Riordan MacQuarrie, Saoirse MacQuarrie, Siobhán MacQuarrie, Ayla McCracken-Reed, Venessa McCracken, Ian McGarrett, Brogan McKellar, Darragh O'Connell, Zach Newnham, Zack Radford, Mikayla Stoodley, Phil Stott and Evan Tsimidis.

The creative team includes Set Designer Kim Blackwell, Fight Director Edward Belanger, Costume Designer Korin Cormier, Musical Director Justin Hiscox, Choreographer Rachel Bemrose, Sound Designer Esther Vincent, Directing Intern Shelley Simester and Assistant to the Director Sierra Gibb-Kahn. The stage management team includes Emily Brown and Gailey Monner.

The Cavan Blazers are Back at 4th Line Theatre

After a seven year hiatus, Robert Winslow's production of The Cavan Blazers is back at 4th Line Theatre from August 2nd through 27th. The play is about the gritty religious conflict between the Catholic and Protestant settlers in Cavan Township during the 1800s. The Cavan Blazers were a Protestant vigilante gang that tried to stop Catholic settlements and even went as far as burning down their farms.

The play features Richard Greenblatt (who starred in the Mirvish Production of 2 Pianos, 4 Hands) as Justice of the Peace and Edward Belanger (who starred in the Mirvish production of Mama Mia!) as the leader of the Blazers. Director Robert Winslow will be reprising his original role of Father Phelan from the 1992 production.

Tickets are $40 for the Gala Opening, $30 for Adults, $26 for Youth (ages 5-16) and the August 6th 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner PLUS Opening Night & Reception is $150.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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