We chatted with John Jarvis about our upcoming production of The New Canadian Curling Club and chatted about why he wants to be involved in this show, what he loves about his character, and what type of person will enjoy this show.

Lighthouse Festival (LF): Why did you want to be involved in this show? 

John Jarvis (JJ): I wanted to be involved in this production because I’ve met many “Stuart MacPhail’s” over the years, and I think it’s important that we take a good look at these types of people and see for ourselves that judging folks who we know nothing about, is never the best way to understanding the beauty of our differences.  

(LF): What do you love about your character? 

(JJ): I love that Stuart has the capacity to learn, change and grow. A good man, taught to be fearful of the “others,” learns to love people for who they really are.  

(LF): What type of person is going to love this show? 

(JJ): I think that the type of person who would love this show is a goodhearted, fearless, open-minded theatre-goer who might have grown up in small-town Canada, and knows well how badly new Canadians have been treated over the years. As people begin to abandon their old attitudes, they can rejoice in the new and changing face of Canada. They can laugh at how foolish we look when faced with our old, small-town prejudices. 

We chatted with Frank Chung about our upcoming production of The New Canadian Curling Club and chatted about why he wants to be involved in this show, what he loves about his character, and what type of person will enjoy this show.

Lighthouse Festival (LF): Why did you want to be involved in this show? 

Frank Chung (FC): I wanted to be involved in this production because I enjoy performing theatre whenever I can and challenging myself to new opportunities, such as performing a play about curling despite never having curled in my life before! 

(LF): What do you love about your character? 

(FC): What I love about my character is that he sticks up for himself and has compassion and consideration for others. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind but also has a good sense of humour. 

(LF): What type of person is going to love this show? 

(FC): I think the person that would love this show would be either someone who has a passion for curling or for anyone looking to have a fun time at the theatre. 

We met with Mahsa Ershadifar about our upcoming production of The New Canadian Curling Club. We chatted about why she wants to be involved in this show, what the last thing she does before stepping out on stage is, and what she thinks the audience will be thinking on their way home from the show.  

Lighthouse Festival (LF): Why did you want to be involved in this show? 

Mahsa Ershadifar (ME):  The reason I wanted to be involved in this production was because it felt honest. It doesn’t simplify the immigrant experience or reduce people to symbols; it gives them breath, contradiction, humour, and heart. As an Iranian-Canadian artist, I know what it’s like to live in the in-betweens: between cultures, between languages, between feeling seen and being overlooked. This story holds all of that with care. It reminds us that while we can survive on our own, meaning is created when we work together. That’s the hand we were dealt—and this play embraces it with warmth and clarity, not sentimentality. 

(LF): What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage/the curtain goes up? 

(ME): The last thing I do before I step out on stage would have to be a grounding ritual. I take a deep breath, touch the stage floor, or the “ice,” in this case and remind myself to listen. Not just to the lines but to the energy in the room, the rhythm of my cast mates, the heartbeat of the moment. The magic is always in the listening. That’s what keeps the work honest. That’s what makes it feel alive. 

(LF): What do you think the audience members will be thinking on their way home from the show? 

(ME): I think the audience members will be thinking on their way home from the show: “That was more than just a comedy.” Sure, they’ll laugh about the chaos of curling, but I hope something lingers, something quiet and tender. I hope they go home wondering, or rather considering, what small acts they could do to help someone feel more at home. At its core, this play is about how we build belonging, not by erasing difference, but by making space for it. 

We spoke with Andrew Prashad about our upcoming production of The New Canadian Curling Club. We talked about why he wants to be involved in this show, what the last thing he does before stepping out on stage is, and what he thinks the audience will be thinking on their way home from the show.  

Lighthouse Festival (LF): Why did you want to be involved in this show? 

Andrew Prashad (AP):  I had the opportunity to work with our director, Jane Spence, on an earlier version of this show, and I am excited to work with her again while sharing this story and inhabiting this character. 

(LF): What’s the last thing you do before you step out on stage/the curtain goes up? 

(AP): The last thing I do before I step out onto any stage is pray, then I’m able to drop into the character’s circumstances, so everything I do on stage comes from a real and honest place. 

(LF): What do you think the audience members will be thinking on their way home from the show? 

(AP): On their way home, I think the audience members will hopefully be thinking about the jokes and humour, but also how showing empathy for others who are different is a good thing, it helps us understand one another. 

We sat down with Chiamaka Glory about The New Canadian Curling Club and chatted about why she was inclined to be a part of this production, what she loves about the character she’s playing, and what type of person would enjoy this show. 

Lighthouse Festival (LF): Why did you want to be involved in this production? 

Chiamaka Glory (CG): Although this is my first time on stage at Lighthouse Theatre, this is my third time playing Charmaine. I love continuously being a part of this production because I felt I had some unfinished business in uncovering Charmaine’s journey through her grief into self-actualization. And I want to get better at curling, of course! 

(LF): What do you love about your character? 

(CG): I love how my character Charmaine stands up and fights for what is right, for herself, and for those who may not be able to speak for themselves. She embodies the essence of leadership which is truly about service. 

(LF): What type of person is going to love this show?

(CG): I think the type of person who will love this show would be someone who understands the joy, vulnerability, and awkwardness of making new friends and building community. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, this show is for you!