‘My granny was a huge part of my life’: Johnny Reid brings show to 2023 Charlottetown Festival

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Canadian nation music artist Johnny Reid has been sharing his grandmother’s story ever since she died seven years in the past.

The 48-year-old Scottish-born singer will take that story to the stage when Maggie headlines the Charlottetown Competition in 2023.

“My granny was an enormous a part of my life,’’ Reid informed SaltWire Community in a phone interview from his dwelling in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 1. “I spent plenty of time attempting to inform individuals who she was and what she was. Then, I noticed I might really put her on stage. She had a fantastic sense of humour. She was laborious working, pushed and a fantastic pal. She beloved her music and she or he beloved her whiskey.”

SaltWire Community spoke to Reid shortly earlier than the 2022 summer season lineup was unveiled at a information convention at The Mack.

Maggie tells the story of Reid’s grandmother, a fiery faculty cleaner within the mining city of Lanarkshire, Scotland. After her husband was killed in a office accident in his early 20s, Reid mentioned she relied on her power, sense of humour and a fiercely loyal group of pals to boost three boys.

Reid co-wrote the manufacturing’s music with Matt Murray and Bob Foster, who co-created the Inform Story Harbour, which ran a the Sobey Household Theatre this previous summer season.

Reid mentioned he shared his grandmother’s story with Murray sooner or later. Subsequent factor he knew, a producer known as. Foster then jumped on board as musical director.

The curiosity didn’t cease there.

Sheridan School in Ontario requested Reid if it might put Maggie into growth.

Adam Brazier, inventive director of the Charlottetown Competition, then flew to Toronto to have a look and the curiosity was mutual.

“Earlier than I knew it, this grew to become a ardour venture,’’ Reid mentioned. “Earlier than I knew it, I used to be watching my granny up on stage. Now, my granny goes to grace the stage on Prince Edward Island. Everybody will not be solely going to get an opportunity to fulfill her and an entire bunch of characters from a forgotten technology but it surely’s going to be all tied along with household, friendship, love and loss and perseverance.”

Immigration story

Brazier mentioned Maggie speaks to Islanders and the historical past of immigration to the Island.

“I totally imagine we’re the primary cease on a really lengthy life for this musical and that’s a lot part of our focus as we transfer ahead as a pageant,” Brazier mentioned.

Reid mentioned he immigrated along with his household to Ontario when he was 15, the place his father felt a greater life awaited.

“This simply looks like the proper place for it. The story is about individuals leaving Scotland and Europe. In a bizarre type of approach, my granny turns into a mirrored image of Scotland. Each time I’m on Prince Edward Island it jogs my memory of Scotland.”

Reid mentioned he will probably be closely concerned within the manufacturing earlier than opening evening and will probably be within the viewers to observe it however he didn’t wish to star in it.

“I actually simply wished to make this about my gran. I wished to verify the highlight was on my gran. That’s why it’s known as Maggie.”

What received’t be within the highlight subsequent 12 months is Anne of Inexperienced Gables-The Musical.

The Confederation Centre of the Arts introduced in November that the long-running present received’t return till 2024, when it should take the stage each second 12 months.

Reid mentioned he doesn’t really feel added strain to anchor the pageant in Anne’s absence.

“No, probably not,” he mentioned. “I feel (Maggie) goes to face for itself.”

Additionally enjoying

The opposite predominant stage present is The Play That Goes Incorrect, a comedy that has performed on Broadway and London’s West Finish.

The Sherlock Holmes-meet-Monty Python manufacturing is a play inside a play, telling the story of a failing theatre troupe attempting to placed on a homicide thriller.

At a look

Following is info on the 2023 Charlottetown Competition:

• Sobey Household Theatre: Maggie, June 21-Sept. 2; The Play That Goes Incorrect, June 14-Sept. 23.

• The Mack: I’m Each Girl, July 3-Sept. 22; The Songs of Johnny and June, July 6-Sept. 2.

• Outside amphitheatre: Mi’kmaq Tales of Rabbit and Mates, Jun 27-July 8; Munschables July 10-Aug. 26.

Dave Stewart is a reporter with SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @DveStewart