Blyth Festival 2024: Ann Stuart will stage manage among three golden anniversaries
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
The undeniable will of the universe may be bringing seasoned stage manager Ann Stuart out of retirement to manage the world premiere of Mark Crawford’s The Golden Anniversaries, but she’d prefer if you didn’t make a fuss about it when she’s in Blyth - just let her do her thing. Stuart is a firm believer in the idea that a good stage manager should be neither seen, nor heard, by the audience. “If somebody tells you you’re doing a good job, you just made a mistake,” she stated. “It interferes with the magic of theatre - I don’t have to be acknowledged on a nightly basis.”
Stuart is most certainly someone who knows a thing or two about the magic of theatre - not only did she manage 70 productions at the Stratford Festival over 40 seasons, but she was also on-hand to take in some truly legendary moments in Canadian theatre history over the years. For example, she was at the first preview of James Reaney’s The Donnelly’s Trilogy at the Reaney farm, and she also saw the first urban production of The Farm Show at Theatre Passe Muraille.
Stuart thinks a great stage manager should have certain qualities. Patience and a lack of ego are part of it. “You have to like all kinds of people, and learn to understand them and care about them. Seasons are long in Blyth and in Stratford.” She also likes to kick off opening night with gifts and cupcakes. “I would like to think that people feel safe in my productions.”
But the reason why The Citizen went to talk to Stuart on the front porch of her lovely waterfront home in Stratford wasn’t to learn the fascinating story of plays since passed, it was to learn the fascinating story of the play that is to come. What was it that had inspired Stuart to finally make her stage managing debut in Blyth? Was it that same old 50th anniversary magic that’s bringing so many other incredibly talented people to town this summer, or is there something more to the story?
Stuart has been a long-time supporter of the Festival - she’s always admired the dedication to producing new Canadian plays, and its youth program, the Young Company, had been the place that fostered her beloved daughter’s creative spirit. Scheduling conflicts with her job at the Stratford Festival meant that taking a summer gig in Huron County wasn’t possible, but she had semi-formed thoughts that Blyth was a place she wanted to work. It wasn’t a desire she broadcast to the world - she’d never even brought it up to her husband, Ross Stuart. After 40 seasons at Stratford, Ann figured it was time to step aside and let somebody younger take the helm. “I’ve had my good times,” she said. “Then the tiles fell into place.”
When Blyth Festival Artistic Director Gil Garratt called to see if Ann would be game for coming out of retirement to stage manage Crawford’s tale of an older couple struggling to celebrate their 50th anniversary for Blyth’s 50th anniversary as a theatre, he never expected she’d say yes. He even prefaced the request by saying “I know the answer will be no, but…”. To his delight, Ann accepted the offer. “He was very surprised!” she recalled.
It was a beyond-perfect opportunity. Not just because of her long-standing desire to work in Blyth, and not just because she loves Crawford’s writing, but because this year marks 50 years since she married Ross! That’s triple golden anniversaries! “It’s very special,” she said. “It’s not something I could have dreamed would be happening. It’s going to be really exciting!” She let her husband know that she wanted to spend the summer of their golden anniversary in Blyth for its golden anniversary, stage managing The Golden Anniversaries. Who could argue with that?
As the interview came to a close, Ross ambled over from the side yard. He pointed at a lovely flowering bush growing next to the porch and asked “Did you explain the bush?” Ann replied, “No, it didn’t really come up, because it has nothing to do with what we’re talking about.”
But then she explained it anyway. It’s called a bridal bush and it had been gifted to them as a married couple. The bush languished in its pot, eventually withering. Stuart put it away and forgot about it. Many months later, she saw that it wasn’t dead - it had been growing, unnoticed, in the dim light of the garden shed. She planted it in a sunny spot next to the porch, where it has flourished ever since, its tiny white flowers bringing them joy every year when spring returns. “We shouldn’t have planted it so close,” she lamented. “It’s getting too big.”