Great Canadian Theatre Company Breaks Box Office History with No Great Mischief

Ottawa, ON, Oct. 28, 2005 – On the same day that GCTC celebrated their 31st anniversary they broke box office history with the smash hit No Great Mischief. Written by David S. Young and adapted from the original novel by Alistair MacLeod the play has beaten previous box office record breaker, Provenance by a solid margin.

“Within days after opening we almost sold-out” says Kim Pinard, GCTC Box Office Manager “I’ve seen shows sell out, but I’ve never seen anything like this!” Having broken all previous GCTC records for box office sales, audience attendance and response the public’s demand for No Great Mischief has not slowed down.

In an effort to meet this demand GCTC extended the run by a week shortly after it opened. Within only seven days of the announcement of No Great Mischief’s continuation to November 5, GCTC found that even the extended run was selling out. Still, the public’s demand was huge; there have been so many phone calls that twice the phone systems have been overloaded in the box office.

This isn’t the first time that No Great Mischief has sold this well, however. In 2004 the show premiered at Tarragon Theatre and had received a completely sold out run to rave reviews.

In Ottawa the show has received exceptional accolades from the reviewers: Ann Marie McQueen of the Ottawa Sun wrote that No Great Mischief is “lovely, heartbreaking, funny and shocking”. She continues by saying that “the best part of No Great Mischief is how it resonates differently with each member of the audience.” Bruce Deachman of the Ottawa Citizen said that “Scenes such as the rain-drenched funeral of Alexander and Calum’s cousin, and another set in an Elliot Lake mine shaft, sprang to life in the way that all theatre should.”

Discovering one’s roots and seeking reconciliation with the past are at the heart of No Great Mischief. Giving us a look into the inner workings of a family fiercely loyal to each other and their memory this play reminds us of the value of familial bonds and the strength of character that lends us. Haunted by the stories and songs of their familial heritage, two brothers, Calum (named after his ancestor) and Alexander, seek to discover where they came from in order to bring resolution to questions of what direction their lives are taking. With the words “Do you remember…” they unlock another piece of Clan MacDonald’s history and their place in it. In this warm, furtive exploration, we learn of the history of not only the MacDonalds’ but of the roots of Cape Breton Island.

The Celtic theme looks as if it is going to stay at the GCTC for a while; If you didn’t get to see No Great Mischief than you will get to see Stones in his Pockets. “Sad, hilarious and irresistible” the two-man show is about the filming of a Hollywood epic in rural Ireland. Stones has played to rave reviews around the world, winning a London Evening Standard Award, an Olivier Award and was completely sold out during its run at the Belfry Theatre.

No Great Mischief runs until November 5 and Stones in his Pockets runs from November 22 to December 11. Contact the GCTC Box Office for further ticket information at 236-5196.

For media information, contact Adam Stephens at (613) 236-5192 ext. 229, or via e-mail at publicity@gctc.ca