Astor Theatre Hosts Virtual Performance
Liverpool residents missing a night at the theatre can now get their fix.
Jonathon Paterson, Technical Director at the Astor Theatre has just produced and starred in his one-man show called “House” and posted it to the Astor’s Facebook page.
Written by Cape Breton actor and playwright Daniel MacIvor in 1991, the play features Victor, whose mother is possessed, father is the saddest man alive, and who laments the love of his life doesn’t love him in return.
After being laid off by the Astor at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paterson returned home to Toronto but wanted to continue to create.
He applied and was awarded a $1,000 grant from the National Arts Council’s Canada Performs series.
Paterson says he’s been fascinated by MacIvor’s play since he saw it for the first time in Toronto in 2007.
“I actually saw a production where some guy got up and walked out just before he left. And MacIvor, as his character, wove that into the play and made it a part of it. I was just learning the craft of the theatre back then and didn’t know that you could have what they call gifts from the gods.”
Paterson wanted a way to continue to earn money while at home so he taught himself how to produce a live stream and took a page from street performers at Fringe Theatre festivals by soliciting donations via Paypal.
“They just pass the hat after and that’s basically me just passing the virtual hat. I’m hoping if and when we do our live Astor series that this continues.”
Paterson says it’s important people support the arts and is thankful the grant he received allowed him to pay himself and the playwright for this performance.
He established the paypal account to receive payment for future performances and hopes people will take this opportunity to donate back into their local arts community.
“I’d like, especially people in Queens County, if they want to make a choice, I would recommend donating to the Astor.”
Paterson wants to return to the Astor once the pandemic subsides.
He moved to Liverpool to take the technical director job in 2017 and was quickly impressed by how much the community embraced the theatre.
“What sets aside the Astor from other theatres is that it’s a beautiful theatre in a very small town. And the community supports the Astor so much.”
Jonathon Paterson’s performance of House can be viewed now on the Astor Theatre Facebook Page.
Reported by Ed Halverson
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson