“Dear Johnny Deere” Bang-up Season Finale at 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque

The 1000 Islands Playhouse is closing out their season with a foot-stomping production of “Dear Johnny Deere.” The book is by Ken Cameron and is based on the music and lyrics of Fred Eaglesmith, with additional music and arrangements by Music Director David Archibald. If you’re not familiar with Fred Eaglesmith, and I wasn’t, his funny and evocative songs have garnered numerous awards in the US and Canada in the country and bluegrass fields.

Playwright Cameron has woven a plot around 15 Fred Eaglesmith songs. Johnny, well-played by Greg Gale, and his wife Caroline, again well-played by Shannon Currie, are having emotional, financial, and farming problems. Into the mix comes Mike, played by the versatile Bruce Horak, with an offer to buy the farm. Mr. Horak also plays Johnny’s father and a snobbish tractor collector. The whole is narrated by the excellent Jeff Culbert playing Johnny’s neighbor, McAllister. The only cast member who doesn’t speak is the dynamite fiddler Capucine Onn. As you might expect, everything works out. These are all good actors, but the show is really about the music.

Listing a few of the song titles will give you the idea: “White Trash,” “Spookin’ the Horses,” “I Wanna Buy Your Truck,” “Old John Deere,” “Time to Get a Gun,” and “It’s Got a Bench Seat Baby” that includes a snippet of “It’s a Mighty Big Car.” All these actors are terrific singers, including Music Director David Archibald, and they all play multiple instruments.

Camillia Koo’s open-sided semi-barn set is perfect with a couple of handy posts for hanging instruments. At one point the baby grand piano with a giant tire beside it becomes a tractor. I especially loved the whirring motors on the barn wall during the “Small Motors” reprise. Her costumes are also good, as is Michelle Ramsay’s lighting and Adam Harendorf’s expertly mixed never-too-loud sound.

Ashlie Corcoran’s staging is excellent in particular the auction scene and the instrument choreography. There are guitars hanging all over the set to be easily reachable, as well as a banjo, mandolin, electric bass, washboard, drum brushes, and even a rain stick. The actors swap instruments with seeming ease. (Whoever tunes them all before the show deserves a medal.) Ms. Corcoran has also encouraged her cast to find some depth in these characters, which gives Act II an unexpected impact.

As I said, though, it’s about the songs. My companion and I both wanted to stay after and hear a few more. This is a terrific way for the 1000 Islands Playhouse to wind up their season.

 

“Dear Johnny Deere” Book: Ken Cameron, Music & Lyrics Fred Eaglesmith thru October 18       Tkts: 613-302-7020

Cast

McAllister: Jeff Culbert
Caroline/Auctioneer: Shannon Currie
Johnny: Greg Gale
Mike/Hendrik/Collector: Bruce Horak
Fiddler: Capucine Onn

Creative

Director: Ashlie Corcoran
Associate Director: Rob Kempson
Set & Costume Designer: Camellia Koo
Associate Designer: Jung-Hye Kim
Sound Designer: Adam Harendorf
Lighting Designer: Michelle Ramsay
Music Director: David Archibald (Arrangements & Addition Music)
Stage Manager: Natasha Bean-Smith
Assistant Stage Manager: Chantal Hayman
Fight Director: Liam Karry