Blyth world premiere of "Our Beautiful Sons" is powerful story of grief and love

You may think you know the Matthew Dinning story - the 23-year-old from Wingham who joined the Canadian Armed Forces and was killed in Afghanistan in 2006.

But knowing these facts does not prepare you for the gut-wrenching, heart-breaking story of grief and love, powerfully portrayed in the Blyth Festival's world premiere of "Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning."

Written by Christopher Morris and directed by Gil Garratt, artistic director of the Blyth Festival, the play opened June 15, with a Colour Party from the Blyth Legion in attendance, and the singing of "O Canada." Dinning's parents, Laurie and Lincoln, were in the audience, along with members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The story is told from Laurie's perspective as she struggles to come to terms with her son's death, and then the unbelievable news that her second son, Brendon, has volunteered for active service.

Rebecca Auerbach is superb as Laurie, moving from the past to the present with ease, striding from a hostel scene at one side of the stage, to the family kitchen on the other side. The minimalist, topsy-turvy stage works to perfection, giving full breadth to the complicated and emotional scenes throughout.

J.D. Nicholsen is the tough and enduring Lincoln Dinning, while newcomer Jesse LaVercombe is compelling as Matthew Dinning (and Major Boucher), and Cameron Laurie is stellar as Matthew's brother, Brendon.

Providing some wonderful comic relief, in what would otherwise be an overwhelming drama, are Catherine Fitch as Gail, the delightfully-nosy neighbour, and Tony Munch as Mario, who is staying at the same hostel as Laurie (he also plays the Military Chaplain). And rounding out the cast, is Meghan Chalmers as Sarah, Matthew's girlfriend.

Surprisingly, there are some truly funny moments in this play, as the Dinning family recalls happier times, and treasured memories.

And there are moments that are so difficult to watch, you want to turn away, but you can't. You know that Matthew dies, but still, that dreadful knock on the door and the news that he has been killed, and his parents' horrified reaction - it reverberates deep into the heart and soul of every parent.

The fall-out is almost as great a battleground as the one Matthew toured, and you wonder how the Dinnings can be expected to allow their youngest son to follow in the footsteps of his older brother.

It's a gripping tale, told brilliantly and with great compassion.

"Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning" runs now to Aug. 6 at the Blyth Festival. For ticket information, call 1-877-862-5984 or visit: blythfestival.com