Culture clash at the center of Blyth’s latest play, Dry Streak

The Blyth Festival is taking the stage with its second play of the season, Dry Streak. CTV London’s Scott Miller has more.

A rural son brings home a ‘city girl’ to his small Canadian town to meet his parents. It’s a story that’s played out in country kitchens across the country numerous times, and it is the premise of the latest play to hit the Blyth Festival stage.

“So, at first, there’s a big butting of the heads in this family, the way that Kate likes to live her life just totally does not fit with the way that this family is living. So, there’s a big culture clash between Kate and the Richard’s family,” said Brontae Hunter, who plays the ‘city girl’, Kate Allen.

“Dry Streak” follows Kate as she tries to remain true to herself, while assimilating into a small town. A shrinking small town that is in danger of losing its community centre. At the play’s peak, Kate offers to run naked through town if the devastating drought the town is facing breaks.

“So, John’s sister gets the idea that maybe if they sell tickets to this naked run, they could maybe save the rink. So, that is what the play is about. Their journey with this idea, and how that works with everybody’s belief systems,” said Hunter.

The play features Canadian theatre legend, Benedict Campbell, who is the son of stage icons Douglas Campbell and Ann Casson. Campbell, who has spent 10 years at the Stratford Festival and 14 years at the Shaw Festival, is making his Blyth Festival debut.

“They have managed to hold on to the sort of spirit of a ‘happening’ that I think some of the larger theatres have lost. They’ve become sort of conglomerate. That doesn’t mean they’re doing bad theatre; it’s just they’re selling a different thing. And, I think this theatre is still selling the experience of community,” said Campbell.

Hunter couldn’t agree more. The Kincardine area actor, who is acting in just her second professional play, believes there’s something special about Blyth as well.

“As I got older, the festival became, really, my dream job, because it’s so important to me that theatre is meshed with the community that it’s situated in. And working here has been just that dream come true completely. So, I’m thrilled and I’m so excited every day to come to work. And sometimes I can’t believe it,” said Hunter.

“Dry Streak” opened June 17 and runs until Aug. 16.