CRONES (2024)
Written by Anju Virick
Directed by Jeannette Lambermont-Morey
A mythological, wise-cracking, and ageless take on the myths and cracks of aging.
A not-so-shocking mid-life revelation leaves Beth literally floored, drenched in caesar salad, legs and skirt akimbo, and revealing flesh-coloured spanx to the entire world (not her flesh colour, but someone's, she supposes). This harbinger of doom is heralded by the caw of a solitary crow, the entourage of Dhumavati, Hindu goddess of failure and disappointment.
Starring: Anju Virick, Ellora Patnaik, and Terrance Murphy
"Hang onto your Spanx, Toots!"
A World Premiere developed through the HAT Playwrights Unit and Tell Your Story
with support from the Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC) and the Canada Council for the Arts
HERE’S WHAT PATRONS ARE SAYING:
”My stomach burned with passion through the entire show. This was an outstanding piece and I loved every moment.” - JH
“A stupendous first for a playwright, and a successful outing in locally produced theatre work.” -MD
“I am not lying when I say this work changed my life!” -GW
TRAILERS
CAST & CREW
-
Anju Virick (she/her) - BANDHAVI & PLAYWRIGHT
Favourite HAT Credits:
Tell Your Story, A Comedy of Errors, A Christmas Carol, Cheers to 10 Years!Other:
She is a teacher by day, a yoga teacher by evening and now, thanks to luck and generosity, a performer by night. Her husband and 2 incredible teenagers are very supportive if slightly baffled by this turn of events. -
Ellora Patnaik (she/her) - DHUMAVATI
Favourite HAT Credits:
HAT Debut!Other:
Ellora Patnaik is a Toronto-born actress. Ellora grew up a dancer and specializes in Odissi classical (Indian) dance. She first trained under her mother, Chitralekha Patnaik, and was later hand-picked by the head of the Orissa Dance Academy to continue her studies in India. A professional dancer from her early teens, she quickly became one of the most notable Odissi dancers of her generation with hundreds of performances and more than a dozen choreographies to her name. Upon returning to Canada, she was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), where she was company member in her graduating year. Recent film and TV projects include Sort Of (for which she was nominated for a CSA award), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Calorie, One Small Visit, Kim’s Convenience, Ginny & Georgia and Schitt’s Creek. Her on-screen successes in no way detracted from her love of stage, however: Ellora has performed in a diverse array of theatre productions, including A Christmas Carol, Standing On My Knees, Nagamandala, Umrao Jaan Ada, The Penelopiad, Romeo and Juliet, Acha Bacha, Her2, Much Ado About Nothing, and Free Outgoing. She has performed as a voice artist for several audio books, plays and video games. Ellora is friend and ally of all animals, always and everywhere. -
Terrance Murphy (he/him) - BILL
Favourite HAT Credits:
Mamma Mia (HAT/Savoy)Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
Jersey Boys, Dear Rita, The Legend series (Savoy), Angus "GIANT" MacAskill, Geranium Ward (Dangerous Dreamers), Frankenstein, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Oliver (Boardmore Playhouse)Other:
Terrance has been acting and singing (and acting like he's singing) for 40+ years all over the Maritimes. Having only once been on the HAT stage (because he went through the wrong door and ended up backstage during a mic check for Funny Girl) he is absolutely tickled to have Crones as his first actual play for The HAT! -
Jeannette Lambermont-Morey (she/her) –DIRECTOR
Favourite Previous HAT Credits:
The Beloved (Director)Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
SELECTED CREDITS - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (YES Theatre, Sudbury), The Tempest (New World Theatre Project, NL), Moving Day (Xchange Theatre Works, NL), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Festival Players, ON), Henry V (Stratford Festival), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Virginia Stage Co, Norfolk, VA)Other:
I am delighted to be back at the HAT with this wonderful team! -
Ganesh Thava (he/him) – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & STAGE MANAGER
Favourite HAT Credits:
The BelovedFavourite Credits Elsewhere:
The Incident (Oakham Theatre), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Unionville Theatre Company)Training:
George Brown Theatre School (Toronto), Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre (New York) -
Kayla Cormier (she/her) – COSTUME DESIGNER
Favourite HAT Credits:
Cabaret (Costume), She Loves Me (Set), Little Shop of Horrors (Set), West Moon (Set), See Jane Run (Costume)Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
Matilda The Musical (Costume Designer, Savoy Theatre); Pillowman (Set Designer, Boardmore Theatre); Hamlet (Scenic Painter, Boardmore Theatre)Training:
Production Management (CBU -
Jaida Lapsley (she/her) - COSTUME CONSULTANT
Favourite HAT Credits:
HAT Debut!Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
Design credits - Spring Awakening (Theatre Ancaster), Finding Nemo Jr. (Theatre Ancaster), Little Women (Neptune Theatre). Wardrobe credits: Jersey Boys (Drayton Entertainment), The Rocky Horror Show (Neptune Theatre), Hamlet (Shakespeare By The Sea), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare By The Sea), The Cunning Little Vixen (Dalhousie University).Training:
Jaida is a graduate of Dalhousie University's Costume Studies program, where she focused her studies on South Asian textiles and fashion history. -
Bradley Murphy - SET DESIGN
Favourite HAT Credits:
Mimikej (Set, Music)Training:
National Theatre School of Canada, MTL -
Ken Heaton (he/him) – LIGHTING DESIGNER
Favourite HAT Credits:
My recent lighting designs include almost everything produced at the HAT since 2014.Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
Both Grease and Matilda (Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay)Other:
It is great to be back at the HAT! -
Aaron Corbett (he/him) – SOUND DESIGN
Favourite HAT Credits:
If I Had a Million Tributes (Steven Page), Cabaret (Herr Shultz), Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik), Vigil (Kemp), TomorrowLove TM (Parker)Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
Elf The Musical (Savoy Theatre), The Pillowman (Boardmore Theatre) -
Laura Stinson (she/they) – PUPPET DESIGNER
Favourite HAT Credits:
Jack & the Beanstalk: A Musical Comedy PantomimeFavourite Credits Elsewhere:
A Gorgon's Tale (North Barn Theatre), The Hobbit (Festival Antigonish), Hänsel und Gretel in: der Garten von Edible Horrors (Villains Theatre), A Monster's Journey (It's Gonna be Great Theatre), Windfall in the Hollow (River Clyde Pageant)Training:
Bread and Puppet Theatre (Glover, US), Compagnie Coatimundi (Chateaurenard, France), Compagnie Arketal (Cannes, France) -
Wesley J. Colford (they/them) - PRODUCER
Favourite HAT Credits:
The Wakowski Brothers, A Christmas Carol, Heart of Steel, Dream, Disco Nights, She Loves Me, The Drowsy Chaperone, Jack & The Beanstalk: A Musical Comedy Pantomime (Director)Favourite Credits Elsewhere:
Anie, Matilda the Musical (The Savoy Theatre)Training:
Sheridan College Musical Theatre Performance, George Brown Theatre School