PHOTOS: A Taste of the East Coast Hits Chemong Lodge For Conman's Fifth Annual Lobsterfest to Support Oceans Initiative

Fresh Maritime crustaceans were grilled up and the drinks were free-flowing at Chemong Lodge for its Conman’s Fifth Annual Lobsterfest to Support Oceans Initiative on Sunday.

All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The event featured live music, a live pipe band from the Hastings & Prince Edward Regimental Association Pipe Band, alcohol tents, an ice cream station, a bouncy castle, fresh Maritime lobsters, a fireworks show and a silent auction in support of Oceans Initiative.

The event honours the late Connor Brown, brother of Chemong Lodge owners Adam and Addison Brown. In 2018, Connor lost his life in a commercial diving accident. Chemong Lodge chose to support Oceans Initiative as a meaningful way to honour his memory and continue his legacy of connection to the sea.

The initiative's mission is to protect marine life and the ecosystems they depend on, and to share innovative science to guide conservation action, according to their website.

@ptbo_canada Fresh Maritime crustaceans were grilled up and the drinks were free-flowing at Chemong Lodge for its Conman’s fifth annual Lobsterfest to support Oceans Initiative on Sunday. ##fyp##news##ptbocanada##journalism##lobsterfest ♬ Tropical C - Worldwide Beatsnation

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PHOTOS: Kawartha Ribfest Brings the Heat and the Meat For Three Days at Healthy Planet Arena

Kawartha Ribfest fired up its grills, poured its drinks and got loud for Peterborough over three days for the first time at Healthy Planet Arena this past Friday through Sunday.

Oscar Pensa, Jack the Ribber manager, slathers some sauce over pork ribs on Ribfest's opening day. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The event featured four companies in Oak 87, Fat Boys Barbeque, Boss Hog’s and Jack the Ribber Barbeque firing up the grills and serving customers a variety of foods. The menu included pulled pork, ribs (pork and beef), beans, salad, chicken, and more.

Oscar Pensa, Jack the Ribber manager, said he looks forward to working Ribfest and being a part of a positive atmosphere.

“I just love seeing the smile on everyone's faces, I love hearing people come back and tell me how amazing the food is,” he explained. “It feels great to be able to provide some good food that isn't so easy to come by; it's nice to let everyone else experience what I get to experience every weekend.”

Pensa says he prepares his trailer two months in advance, working every day leading up to the Ribfest season. There is a lot of work and effort put into each event but he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“We set up on the Thursday and we're here for 17-18 days cooking food, making sure everything comes out amazing so it pretty much seven days a week for six months of a year,” said Pensa. “It's so fun, we love to do it.”

In addition to the rib stations, Ribfest also had a vendor village, other food and drink kiosks, live music, beer gardens and more.

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Break-and-Enter Charge Laid After Homeowner Returns Home and Discovers a Man Sleeping On Their Couch

A 53-year-old Peterborough man has been arrested and charged with break and enter after being discovered sleeping on someone’s couch on Sunday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 12:30 a.m., officers were called to the area of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre after a man advised that he had located someone sleeping on his couch after returning home. Officers located the male in the living room still asleep on the couch and placed them under arrest.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Break, enter a dwelling with intent to commit indictable offence

The accused is also bound by a probation order with conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

They were further charged with:

• Fail to comply with probation order

The accused was released on an undertaking and scheduled to attend court on Nov. 17.

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Nominations For Rotary Club of Peterborough's 2026 Paul Harris Fellowship Ends Tuesday

Nominations for the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Recognition for 2026 in honour of the founder of Rotary International in 1905 end this Tuesday.

The 2025 Paul Harris Fellow Recognition recipients.

(From left to right) (Back Row) Kelli Grady, Betty Halman-Plumley, Margaret Hamilton, Catherine Hanrahan, Wendy Swain, Elwood Jones, Don Watkins, Maureen Crowley, Mary Smith

(Front Row) Linda Calverley, Ashley Bonner, Lorne Hamilton, Marcus Ferguson, Steve Paul, Len Lifchus and Brendan Moher. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

According to Rotary, the Fellowship recognizes local individuals for their leadership and service contributions within our community, the surrounding area and the world at large. It is considered the highest honour Rotarians can give.

Nominations in the following categories can be submitted online. Nominees may be Rotarians or non-Rotarians. On behalf of each recipient, both Rotary Clubs will donate $1,000 USD to the Rotary International Foundation.

Categories include:

• Community Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant leadership contribution to the advancement and betterment of the Peterborough Community. 

• International Service: To recognize an individual who makes a significant contribution toward to betterment of the communities in other parts of the world, and/or leadership toward work peace and understanding. 

• Vocational Service: To recognize an individual who uses their vocational skills consistent wit Rotary ideals toward community and/or international matters.

• Youth Services: To recognize an individual who makes significant contributions toward to youth (programs, services and/or related matters).

• Environmental Service: To recognize an individual who supports activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of our environment.

• Club Service: To recognize a Peterborough Rotary Club member for their outstanding service and dedication. 

The Rotary Club of Peterborough and Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha are celebrating the recipients at a joint Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Dinner on Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club.

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Peterborough Petes Reassign 17 Players After First Preseason Game

After the Peterborough Petes’ 3-2 preseason win over the Sarnia Sting on Friday night, the team reassigned another 17 players on Saturday.

Colton Lapierre (left) was one of the 17 reassigned players following the first preseason game. Photo courtesy of David Pickering and the Peterborough Petes.

The following is full list of reassigned players:

• Theo Finch

• Declan Ready

• Nolan Gerow

• Jonny Brooks

• Keegan Shirley

• Mason Quinn

• Colton Lapierre

• Sam Black

• Owen Knight

• Brandt Rooyakkers

• Joseph Szarka

• Harrison McLean

• Marcus Sulug

• Daniel Tout

• Tyson Cartier

• Cole McLennan

• Ethan Cosker

“As we progress further into the preseason, we’ve had to make some more very difficult decisions,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “These decisions are never easy, especially when you see the hard work and commitment that each player has put into camp. We will continue to monitor the development of these players moving forward for future opportunities with the Peterborough Petes.”

The Petes have their first home preseason game this Thursday against the Sting. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The game is streamed on the Petes YouTube channel.

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United Way Peterborough Unveils Campaign Cabinet for 85th Anniversary and Official 2026 Campaign Launch Date

By Scott Arnold

A team of 17 Peterborough-area community leaders is getting ready to rally neighbours together as United Way Peterborough & District prepares to launch its 2026-27 Community Campaign.

Members of United Way Peterborough & District’s 2026-27 Community Campaign Cabinet are ready to help lead the organization’s 85th anniversary campaign. (Photo courtesy of United Way Peterborough & District)

Led by campaign chair Tiffany Arcari, the new Community Campaign Cabinet brings together representatives from businesses, organizations and sectors across Peterborough City and County.

The campaign's theme is “Certified Neighbours,” celebrating the people who step up for one another and recognizing that everyone has a role to play in building a stronger community.

Arcari said the people around the table share a commitment to the community and a desire to help.

“I am incredibly grateful for this team of Certified Neighbours. Every person around that table said yes because they believe in our community, care about their neighbours, and want to help make our community stronger,” she said.

The 17-member cabinet includes community ambassadors as well as representatives from local businesses, health care, education, government and other organizations.

Members are:

• Tiffany Arcari, campaign chair

• Darcy Bonner, community ambassador

• Arti Chinchalkar, community ambassador

• David Dickson, community ambassador

• Coby Fewings, Scotiabank

• Sheridan Graham, County of Peterborough

• Trista Greer, For the Love of Marketing

• Johanna Hawkshaw, YourTV

• Greg Kidd, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

• Evan Lyons, Peterborough Regional Health Centre

• Laken MacFarlane, City of Peterborough

• Thomas Piggot, Lakelands Public Health

• Amanda Pinder, RBC

• Paul Rellinger, community ambassador

• Balkaran Singh Sathi, Sathi Law

• Jeannine Taylor, KawarthaNOW

• Scott Whiteis, Work Happier

Following the cabinet's first meeting, Arcari said she was struck by the willingness of the group to come together around a common purpose.

“I left our first cabinet meeting with a full heart. There is something really special about sitting around a table with people who genuinely care about this community, who understand the challenges we face, and who are willing to step forward and say, ‘I am here, how can I help?’”

The cabinet will help United Way connect with workplaces, community members and local leaders throughout the campaign, raising awareness and support for programs and initiatives addressing challenges facing people across Peterborough City and County.

This year's campaign is also a milestone for United Way Peterborough & District, which is celebrating 85 years of bringing people together to strengthen the community.

The campaign officially gets underway with a launch event on Thursday, September 17th, from 12pm to 2pm at Healthy Planet Arena.

Presented by Miskin Law, the event will include lunch, an opportunity for community and business leaders to connect, and the reveal of United Way's 2026-27 fundraising goal.

Tickets are now available online for those who want to join the community campaign launch.

As the 85th anniversary campaign gets underway, United Way plans to recognize the people and partnerships that have helped strengthen the community over the years while turning its attention to the needs that remain.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Riverview Park and Zoo Mourns the Loss of Beloved Serval Ali

By Scott Arnold

A familiar face at the Riverview Park and Zoo has passed away, with staff and visitors saying goodbye to Ali, a serval cat who was just shy of her 23rd birthday.

Ali was a longtime resident of the Riverview Park and Zoo, arriving in Peterborough in 2010 and becoming a familiar face to zoo visitors and staff. (Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo)

Ali arrived at the zoo in 2010 after being donated by the Toronto Zoo, and quickly became a familiar and popular animal with her distinctive markings and personality.

Her time at the zoo also included an unexpected challenge. In 2020, Ali broke her right front leg in a fall and ultimately lost the leg. She adapted to life on three legs and continued to thrive, remaining a favourite among zoo staff and visitors.

Ali spent more than 15 years at the Riverview Park and Zoo, where her distinctive markings and personality made her a favourite among staff and visitors. (Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo)

For much of her time at Riverview Park and Zoo, Ali shared her space with two other servals, Friday and Kabala. Kabala arrived at the zoo in 2001 and passed away in 2018, while Friday arrived in 2004 and remained at Riverview until her passing in 2023. After both of them passed away, Ali spent her final years alongside Torty, the zoo's African spurred tortoise.

Ali was a longtime resident of the Riverview Park and Zoo, arriving in Peterborough in 2010 and becoming a familiar face to zoo visitors and staff. (Photo courtesy of Riverview Park and Zoo)

Servals typically live about 10 to 12 years in the wild, while those in captivity can live beyond 20 years. Ali was just shy of turning 23 when she passed away.

With Ali's passing, the Riverview Park and Zoo is now without a serval, bringing the chapter of these distinctive wild cats at the zoo to a close, at least for now.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Lakers Season Ends as Chiefs Capture Fourth Straight MSL Championship

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers’ season came to an end Sunday night with a 10-3 loss to the Six Nations Chiefs, who captured their fourth straight Everett Coates Trophy as Major Series Lacrosse champions.

The 2026 Peterborough Century 21 Lakers came up one win short of the MSL championship, finishing their season as league finalists. (photo courtesy of peterborough lakers via david pickering)

The Lakers entered Game 6 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre needing a win to force a seventh and deciding game, but the Chiefs built an early lead and held off every attempt to get back into the game.

Dhane Smith opened the scoring for Six Nations before Ian MacKay scored twice to put the Chiefs up 3-0. Chris Cloutier then made it 4-0 before Rob Hellyer got Peterborough on the board, scoring off a Ryan Lanchbury pass with 4:40 left in the opening period. Shayne Jackson restored the Chiefs’ four-goal lead with 48 seconds left, sending Six Nations into the second with a 5-1 advantage.

The Lakers needed a strong start to the second and got it from Braedon Saris, who scored on the power play just under four minutes in to cut the deficit to three. It was over 11 minutes until the games next goal, with Andrew Kew scoring for Six Nations to make it a 6-2 game. The Chiefs would strike again with 29 seconds left in the period but the Lakers would respond shortly after as Brad McCulley scored with just three seconds remaining, cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 7-3 heading into the third.

It was all Chiefs in the third with Kew opening the scoring just 2:03 into the period to restore a four-goal Six Nations lead. Ryan Smith added a power-play goal before Tyson Bell scored into an empty net with 2:50 remaining, putting the game out of reach and securing the championship for the Chiefs with a final score of 10-3.

Doug Jamieson made 38 saves for Six Nations, while Drew Hutchison made 55 saves for Peterborough in the loss. Nick Rose was anticipated to get the start for the Lakers but he was not a hundred percent and as game time neared, the team made the call to go with Hutchison between the pipes while Deacon Knott suited up as his backup.

For Lakers captain Robert Hope, the result was disappointing, but he said the team could still be proud of what it accomplished.

“I'm proud of our group,” Hope said after the game. “But again, coming up short is disappointing.”

Hope also pointed to the mistakes that proved costly against a Six Nations team that was able to capitalize on its opportunities.

“I just thought we made too many mistakes and they capitalized on theirs,” he said.

Despite the disappointment, Hope made sure to recognize the fans who stayed to salute the team following the final buzzer. He called Peterborough’s supporters “the greatest fans in lacrosse in the summer” and said their support remains a huge part of the Lakers’ tradition.

“It’s so important that we have that community support and it continues on,” Hope said.

Six Nations Chiefs goaltender Doug Jamieson is presented with the Johnny “Shooter” Davis Award by Johnny Davis Jr. after being named the MSL playoff MVP. (photo courtesy of MAjor Series Lacrosse via gary groob)

The championship was especially significant for Six Nations goalie Jamieson, who was named the Johnny “Shooter” Davis Award winner as the MSL playoff MVP after helping lead the Chiefs to their fourth consecutive title.

Jamieson, who was in net for all four wins in the series, said he knew Game 6 would require a strong effort after a series in which both teams had protected home floor.

“It was such a tight series,” Jamieson said. “Peterborough played great. Each team was winning at home, so we knew it was going to take a good effort tonight to come here and get it done.”

The Chiefs had been rotating Jamieson and Warren Hill every game but decided to put Jamieson in net on Sunday for his second straight start. Jamieson said he didn’t find out he would be starting until he arrived at the arena. “Usually I like to get a little more heads up” Jamieson joked after the game.

When asked about the goaltending rotation, Jamieson said he appreciated the approach and the trust between him and Hill. “Warren's been great all year. I just appreciate the dynamic we have and getting to only play every other game”.

Jamieson said the Tyson Bell empty net goal gave the team some breathing room late in the game and that’s when he started to taste the smell of victory. “I think when Tyson got that empty netter, it’s kind of like, okay, maybe we got it.”

For the Chiefs, the fourth straight Everett Coates Trophy, and 10th all-time, adds another chapter to what has become one of the league’s most familiar championship rivalries. Six Nations will now turn its attention to the Mann Cup, where the Chiefs will host the WLA champion Coquitlam Adanacs beginning September 11th for the Canadian championship.

The Six Nations Chiefs celebrate their fourth straight Everett Coates Trophy after defeating the Lakers in Game 6 of the MSL final. (photo coutesy of major series lacrosse via gary groob)

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Man Faces 49 Charges Including Theft Over Multiple Businesses

Mitchell Mackenzie, a 31-year-old Peterborough man, is in custody on 49 separate charges, including theft related to incidents involving local businesses over the past 11 days.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Police Service.

Officers were notified of a theft in progress from a local business on Friday. Officers from the Community F.I.R.S.T unit attended the area and located a man matching the description. They also recognized the man as wanted on warrants.  After initially resisting arrest, the man was taken into custody.

Mackenzie was arrested and charged with:

• Fail to comply with probation x6

• Theft under $5,000 x3

• Resist peace officer

He was also arrested on the strength of the warrants for:

• Robbery with theft

• Fail to comply with probation x26

• Theft under $5,000 x12

The thefts related to the above charges involve $7,445.77 in merchandise lost from local businesses.

The accused in these matters has 42 previous criminal convictions in the Peterborough Police Service jurisdiction, including:

• Assault x2

• Uttering threats x2

• Possession of a schedule I x2

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

• Operation while impaired

• Assault with a weapon

• Theft of motor vehicle

• Failing to comply with probation x11

The Peterborough Police Service recognizes the impact these offences have on our local community, and has identified this individual as being in the public interest.

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on Friday.

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A Dangerous Game of Power, Desire and Mystery Is Coming to Peterborough

By Scott Arnold

There are some theatre productions you watch, applaud and leave behind. Then there are productions that follow you out the door, into the car and home with you, refusing to let go. Lisa Dixon is counting on Venus in Fur being the latter.

Lisa Dixon is bringing her vision for David Ives’ Venus in Fur to the Peterborough Theatre Guild stage, promising audiences a production filled with mystery, tension and unexpected turns when it opens September 18th. (Photo by Scott Arnold)

On September 18th, the lights will come up at the Peterborough Theatre Guild on Rogers Street, and two actors will take the stage for a 90-minute performance that director Lisa Dixon describes as “a train wreck of a production.”

And she means that in the best possible way.

“You just don't see it coming,” Dixon says.

Based on David Ives’ acclaimed play, Venus in Fur begins simply enough. An actress arrives unexpectedly to audition for a director working on a new adaptation of a classic novel. But as the audition and rehearsal unfold, the lines between actor and character begin to blur, and the balance of power between the two shifts in increasingly unexpected ways.

It is part psychological thriller, part dark comedy and part theatrical puzzle. It is also, according to Dixon, “so hot, so sexy,” while carrying an unmistakable sense of danger.

And she is determined not to give too much away.

“I can't say about 90% of it,” she says.

That is not a complaint. It is part of the fun.

With only two performers carrying the entire production, every glance, every movement and every exchange matters. Carissa Kaye and John Austin were exactly the pair Dixon was looking for, and their chemistry was apparent almost immediately.

“When they auditioned, it was a no-brainer,” she says.

Dixon put the two together to see whether they would work as a pair.

“Bam. It was electrifying.”

That chemistry has only intensified through rehearsals.

The production involves intimacy, physical danger and moments that demand a tremendous amount of trust between the performers. A knife and a gun are part of the production, while intimacy and fight direction is being handled by Mercedes Davy of The Gentle Blade Fight/Intimacy Direction.

Rather than shying away from the vulnerability the material demands, Dixon says Kaye and Austin have embraced it.

“They come ready. They're really hungry.”

That has made the director's job considerably easier.

“I am in really good shape,” she says with a laugh.

But while there may be only two people on stage, Venus in Fur is anything but a two-person effort.

Behind those performers is a creative team bringing Dixon's vision to life, including producer Kym Hyde, stage manager Marilyn Robinson, assistant stage manager Taya McKeen, sound designer and composer Beau Dixon, set designer Erin Brownson, costume designer Jayne Martin, hair and makeup designer Shelley Moody, and lighting designer Don White.

The result is a production that Dixon says has already become electrifying, even with weeks of rehearsal still ahead.

And then there is the set.

It is not supposed to be beautiful.

It is supposed to be unsettling.

The action takes place in a dark, dingy basement, reflecting the world of the play and the psychological atmosphere Dixon wants to create.

“It's gross,” she says. “It's a basement.”

Lighting and sound will add another layer to that atmosphere, with thunder, lightning, darkness and sudden changes in light helping create what Dixon describes as a psychological-thriller feeling.

Much of that work is being done by people Dixon knows extremely well.

Her brother, Beau Dixon, is the production's sound designer and composer, continuing a creative partnership that goes back much further than this particular production.

In fact, theatre has been part of the Dixon family for as long as Lisa can remember.

She recalls being children and putting makeup on her brothers, dressing them in hats and dresses and reenacting musicals and plays.

“We were doing theatre since we could walk, since we could sing and talk.”

Working with Beau professionally now is a continuation of that lifelong collaboration.

“He is a professional,” Dixon says. “He gets it.”

What she particularly appreciates is the balance between his expertise and her vision. He brings his professional experience to the process while respecting what she wants the audience to see, hear and feel.

That collaborative spirit extends throughout the production.

Dixon says directing means having a vision and ultimately having the final say, but it also means being willing to listen, experiment and give people an opportunity.

One example is set designer Erin Brownson, who is just 23 years old and lives in Toronto. Dixon has known her since she was born and knew she had experience designing sets through theatre school.

So Dixon gave her a chance.

The result, she says, is an amazing set.

Brownson's father is also the head builder, bringing his own expertise to turning the design into reality.

That combination of experience, new ideas and trust is something Dixon believes is essential to community theatre.

“You have to be very careful and you have to be very open to new ideas,” she says.

Sometimes there are disagreements. Sometimes people have to pivot. But ultimately, she says, the goal is the same.

“It is always the creative process and the drive to make it right despite anything else.”

That spirit is one of the reasons Dixon believes Peterborough's arts community punches so far above its weight.

She points to organizations and venues including Fourth Line Theatre, Public Energy, Peterborough New Dance, the Peterborough Theatre Guild, Black Box Theatre and Theatre on King.

There is a richness of storytelling here, she says, and perhaps something in the water that makes people want to create.

Dixon knows that firsthand.

A chef by trade, she moved to Peterborough to open Black Honey and says she was immediately impressed by the city's food scene and the number of independent restaurant owners creating something of their own.

She sees that same spirit in the arts.

“Everyone's so rich with concept of storytelling and then making it come to life, which is the hard part.”

Having an idea is one thing.

Making it happen is another.

Making it good enough that people will pay to experience it is something else entirely.

And for Dixon, that final step is what makes live theatre so special.

“You can do that if you live in another city, but while you're in Peterborough, go see the arts.”

For her, Venus in Fur is another chance to do exactly that.

Dixon first encountered the play when Bea Quarrie presented it as a stage read at the Theatre Guild last year. The Guild stages five reads a year, giving actors, directors and audiences a chance to experience material that may be different from the organization's usual productions and see how it works.

The reading stayed with Dixon.

She had directed 291 at the Theatre Guild the previous year and wanted to take on something different.

But she wondered whether Venus in Fur might be too provocative for a Peterborough audience.

She was wrong.

“I thought the Theatre Guild would say, it's a little too spicy for the Peterborough crowd,” she says.

Instead, they gave her the opportunity.

“This is going to blow you away,” Dixon says.

And she is clearly thrilled to be the one bringing it to the stage.

There is still work to do before opening night. Rehearsals have been underway for about three months, generally twice a week, with everyone involved balancing the production with their other jobs and commitments.

But Dixon has resisted adding a third rehearsal each week.

Her actors are simply that prepared.

Now she is looking ahead to September 18th and the moment when months of work become something shared with an audience.

She compares it to preparing a meal for a large group. As a chef, she knows that the final product may have one person's name attached to it, but it takes many people to make it happen.

The same is true here.

“It’s so many other people involved.”

And she is looking forward to the feeling that comes just before the curtain rises, when everyone involved knows there is no turning back.

“That gut feeling,” she says. “You kind of feel scared and it's fluttery.”

Then comes the audience.

Dixon does not simply want people to enjoy the show. She wants it to get inside their heads.

She wants the laughter.

She wants the horror.

She wants the shock.

And, most importantly, she wants the questions that come afterward.

“I'm so looking forward to people getting up when the show is done and thinking what's going on in their heads,” she says.

Because Venus in Fur is designed to linger.

“Two or three days later, you'll get people saying, ‘Wow, I can't stop thinking about it.’”

That, to Dixon, is theatre at its most powerful.

The play may be built around two people locked in a struggle for power, but she believes its themes reach far beyond the stage.

“It's a classical story about two people in a power struggle and we're always facing that.”

She hopes audiences will recognize something of themselves in it, perhaps finding a situation in their own lives that makes them think, question or confront something they have yet to come to terms with.

And then, somehow, come away from it with a sense of joy.

That is a lot to ask from 90 minutes of theatre.

But Dixon clearly believes Venus in Fur can deliver.

She has the actors. She has the creative team. She has the vision. And she has a play that she is deliberately keeping just mysterious enough to make audiences wonder what, exactly, they are walking into.

One thing is certain: whatever happens when Carissa Kaye and John Austin step onto that stage, Dixon does not want to tell you everything beforehand.

She wants you to experience it.

She wants you to be surprised.

And she wants you to still be talking about it after the lights come up.

If Dixon gets her wish, however, the real payoff will come long after the tickets are scanned, the applause fades and audiences head for home.

They will still be thinking about what they just saw.

And perhaps wondering what, exactly, happened in that basement.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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