Shades of the Evening

Every village has its mysteries and legends...

Vintage Stock Theatre presents
Shades of the Evening 2006

Nothing But My Heart
A play by lamplight
by John Cook and Susan M. Flemming
directed by Susan M. Flemming

Nothing But My Heart was inspired by the memoirs of long time resident Hattie Dunning whose ancestors were amongst the first settlers in Cumberland Township. In 1947 she wrote the following rather curious entry:

"Louis Riel was once brought into the Dunning House when he was being taken through the place....Mother said they were warned to keep away from the dining room and not let on they knew he was there...."

Fascinated by this rather cryptic anecdote, playwrights Susan M. Flemming and John Cook have created a compelling story around the possibility that Louis Riel may have passed through Cumberland in April 1874, as he tried to stay one step ahead of the police who carried a warrant for his arrest for the murder of Orangeman Thomas Scott.
The story is seen through the eyes of Michael O’Meara, Navan’s first postmaster who immigrated to Cumberland Township from Ireland in 1837. Each of the six dramatizations reflect how different Cumberland residents may have reacted to news that Riel might be in their midst-- from the parish priest, to the storekeeper, to the Grand Master of the Orange Lodge in Bearbrook.

Performances
Friday, September 22
Saturday, September 23
Friday, September 29
Saturday, September 30

Beginning at 8 pm

Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
2940 Old Montreal Road, Cumberland Village

Tickets $10 (members) $12 (non-members)

Available online at www.vintagestock.on.ca <http://www.vintagestock.on.ca>
or at the door
For reservations, call 613-860-0603

Note: The performance is held out of doors.
Please dress according to the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Vintage Stock gratefully acknowledges the City of Ottawa and the Cumberland Museum
for their support of this production.