LYNN NAGLE
For Chatham This Week
Saturday, July 17 was the world remiere of a radio broadcast play – Running To Detroit at William Street Café.
David Carley wrote the play in response to a request by CK on The Edge Summer Arts Festival for a portrait of an old fashioned radio program about rum running.
Back in 1920, when radio first hit the airwaves, Canadians were able to manufacture liquor but could not drink it in public. Across the border, Prohibition meant that the U.S. wasn't even able to produce liquor let alone drink it. Smuggling rum and other liquors became a lucrative business for many Canadians.
Running To Detroit, became Carley's play. It was produced by David Farquhar from Voices In The Wind Audio Theatre.
A modern day mother (Michelle Mainwaring) and her daughter (Rachel Muharrem) decide to take the ferry across the river to Detroit. A mishap on the ride takes the two back through time to 1920. The shopping trip and the opportunity to see a Tigers baseball game takes a sudden turn into time travel, rum smuggling and a near-drowning experience. They also meet live gangsters and see the bribery of customs officers while on the river, and even encounter the legendary baseball hero Ty Cobb while back in 1920.
A CFCO simulcast from their website also took the play out to the radio audience at the same time.
The actors, actresses and various crew members were gathered at the café to experience live the final production. A little bit of old and new blended together to form art not totally forgotten.
This article also appeared in the Wallaceburg Courier Press
About Lynn Nagle
Ms. Nagle has been a prolific freelance writer for major publication across Ontario, and also writes for Corporations, Associations and Magazines.
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