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Blyth's “Wing Night at the Boot,” is a perfectly raucous, bawdy tale

August 15, 2018

Nothing is more historic and memorable than a good fist fight at the local bar.

Such is the raucous and bawdy tale of the history of the Blyth Inn, beautifully captured in the Blyth Festival Theatre's “Wing Night at the Boot.”

The world premiere of the show, written by the festival company, opened Friday and continues to Sept. 15.

Tuesday night's audience was thrilled with the jocular, fast-paced comedy, the quick switches in characters, the incredibly-choreographed fist fights, and of course, the streaker; and gave the performance a well-deserved standing ovation at the end.

The acting is superb, featuring Georgina Beaty, Tony Munch, Nathan Howe, Daniel Roberts, Graham Cuthbertson and Marion Day, in a host of characters too numerous to mention.

They range from the original owner, Hawkshaw, who arrives in Drummond (later named Blyth) and then purports that no man should fall in love with his business, before leaving his Commercial Hotel behind; through to some unsavoury types who are confounded by prohibition in Huron County; to those fighting the fires that burn down most of Blyth's main street; and then the regulars who enjoy their beer and brawling at the Boot because they can't drink in Brussels ... or Seaforth!

And why is it called the Rubber Boot? Because the customers arrive in their smelly rubber boots to enjoy a drink? Because they have to remove their boots before entering? Because someone nailed a rubber boot to the wall at the bar? Because you got free beer if you drank if from your rubber boot?

In essence, no one really knows.

But that doesn't stop everyone from having a great time, including the fellow thrown out by his girlfriend with his Glad Bag luggage, the wild man who tries to get to Clinton before the Beer Store closes, the karaoke singers, the crazy cooks in the kitchen for the famous wing night, and the man who takes the dare and streaks through the bar. At one point, there's even a real pig on stage!

The show is action-packed, uproariously funny, and makes you wish it didn't have to end.

It's a real tribute to the Blyth Inn, which has become more of a family dining establishment rather than a bar, as well as to director Severn Thompson, co-creator Gil Garrett, the actors, the writers, and the creative team.

An incredible story, perfectly told.

Get a ticket to this show before it's sold out, by calling the Box Office at 519-523-9300, toll-free at 1-877-862-5984 or on-line at blythfestival.com.



Daniel Roberts (left), Georgina Beaty, Nathan Howe, Marion Day, Tony Munch and Graham Cuthbertson relax at the bar, in a scene from "Wing Night at the Boot," on now at the Blyth Festival Theatre; photos by Terry Manzo



Acting out the perfect fight scene in the Blyth Festival's “Wing Night at the Boot,” are Georgina Beaty (left), Tony Munch, Nathan Howe, Daniel Roberts, Graham Cuthbertson and Marion Day

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