Dates: August 26-28, 2004
Location: St. Mary’s Church, Indian River
Written by: T.S.Eliot
Stage Director: Terry Pratt
Music Director: Carl Mathis
Producer: Jennifer Shields
Stage Manager: Erin Fagan
Assistant Stage Manager: Kevin Peterson
Costume Design: Pam Jewell
Costume Assistants: Joy Martin. Rosemary Mathis, Rachel Fitzpatrick, Cindy Burton
Graphic Design: Chloé Cork, Fred Louder
Lighting Design: William Leuty, Carl Mathis
Program: Fred Louder
Publicity: Brenda Porter, Stacy Dunn
Advertising sales: Greg Hughes
Indian River Festival Liaison: René Hurtubise
Cast
Women of Canterbury Chorus: Ruth Lacey, Katherine Clough, Sharon Eyster, Sophia Wong, Betty Pickering, Anne Furlong, Lana MacAusland, Janet MacDonald, Jennifier Shields, Kelly Cooper, Alanna James
Three Priests of the Cathedral: Rick Burger, Cyril Armstrong, Fred Louder
A Messenger: Carl Phillips
Thomas Becket: Clive Keen
Four Tempters: Allan Hammond, Raymond Moore, Kenneth Gay, Hugh Jones
Three Altar Boys: Timothy O’Brien, Spencer Wigmore, Brandon Gallant
Four Knights: Gerry Gray, Rhéal Lacroix, Richard Sparkes, William Leuty
Indian River Festival Chorus, directed by Carl Mathis
This production was done in cooperation with St. Mary’s Church under the banner of the Indian River Festival. The story of the play is that of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket in December of 1170 and Eliot’s masterpiece, a play in verse, is recognized as a classic. It has been performed worldwide. Director Terry Pratt wrote that “it is still best experienced in a church”. As such, ACT’s production was “location theatre”, some of the action taking place beside and behind the audience in the stunning St. Mary’s Church setting. The Women of Canterbury Chorus harkened back to the chorus in ancient Greek tragedy and set the mood for the action. As an integral part of the production, the Indian River Festival Chorus sang Gregorian chant.