In the Key of Blue

Successful premiere for play based on the music of Blue Rodeo

It was a sold-out opening night on Friday at the Regent Theatre for Mike Trites’ new musical drama In the Key of Blue featuring the iconic music of Blue Rodeo—and subsequent performances on Saturday and Sunday evenings were very nearly sold out as well. Mr. Trites has seamlessly woven the songs of Blue Rodeo into the story of a loving couple whose lives are totally upended after an opportunity for fame presents itself. Jarod Scott, played by John Kenny, is a talented singer and songwriter looking for a breakthrough moment for his band. His long-term partner Candice Darwell, played by Miss Emily, works extra shifts in a local café and does most of the domestic chores in support of Jarod’s dream. The big break comes when Jarod’s band is hired to perform at a fundraiser for a politician. An act of selfishness by Jarod leads to a spiral into despair and addiction, from which recovery is long, painful and perhaps uncertain. The play’s ending is not tied up neatly into a “happily ever after bow”, but a delightful surprise in the final two songs at least gives a hope for optimism. Mr. Trites has quite literally kept the music front and centre, with the band occupying the width of the Regent stage. Much of the acting takes place on moveable sets to the left and right on stage, and images projected through a scrim provide some context to the storyline. The show is a fundraiser for the Regent, with all profits from the production going back to the theatre.

Mr. Kenny was asked to play the lead role after Mr. Trites heard him singing during a jam session playing the music of Blue Rodeo. While Mr. Kenny has appeared many times on stage as a singer, he had to give the offer of an acting role some serious thought before accepting. He said that Mr. Trites has been invaluable as a teacher, and that he’s received encouragement from his girlfriend, who has experience in musical theatre, as well as his brother. “Everyone has just been so supportive, and I’ve been able to gain the confidence to take on something like this,” he said. To help prepare for the role, he’s attended several live Blue Rodeo performances over the past year. “It’s a fun for me as an audience member as it is as a person about to perform it. Their music is so great, and Jim Cuddy’s voice is so pure. I can only hope to do it justice,” he said. He has been rehearsing with the stage band of Joel Parlow, Steve Mee, Paul Kenny, Ryan Henderson Steve Sawyers and Caroline Reiss for well over a year to prepare for this. He said that the Regent Theatre holds a special place in his mind. “This is a dream that I might not have realized that I had. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been fun,” he said.

Co-lead Miss Emily is no stranger to the Regent stage. She has appeared numerous times as a singer, and performed in Suzanne Pasternak’s Minerva as a 13-yearold when the theatre reopened in 1994 after decades of being closed. She took part in several musical theatre performances earlier in her career as a professional singer, appearing in The Buddy Holly Story, Footloose, and Gypsy. But her last musical theatre performance was 14 years ago, and she is thrilled to be back at the Regent for this show. She said it is quite a bit different to be part of a larger and many-faceted production than being in a show as the lead singer with her band.

There’s something uniquely community about being a piece of a puzzle, and that’s how I feel about this production because there are so many moving parts—the band, the crew, my castmates. I don’t carry this show on my shoulders; I’m a piece of it. We’re all important, and it requires all of us for it to happen. You get to share the celebration with a community of people.”

Miss Emily said that her character of Candice shares a lot of similarities with her own life. “She’s a caregiver of sorts, and she puts her needs after those that she cares about, to her own detriment. She has some significant struggles. This play tackles some big topics. It’s not just a ‘gumdrop’ musical at all. I’ve really grown to appreciate the character and love her more.” She said that Mr. Trites has put the music and the storyline together brilliantly so that it flows effortlessly. “He knows the ins and outs of the music, and there are full musical pieces that remain true to the original,” she said.
In the Key of Blue is going on the road. There are shows at the Isabel Bader Centre in Kingston on July 10, 11 and 12, and the Showplace Performance Centre on Peterborough on July 17. For more information, please visit inthekeyofblue.ca