HURRY HARD IS ONLY A STONE’S THROW AWAY AND WORTH WAITING TO SEE IF IT’S IN THE HOUSE AND HITS THE BUTTON

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST – Love on the rocks?

Muskokans will relate to Hurry Hard, a romantic comedy about five friends who share a winter pastime familiar to many small towns.

A sport where there is no “I” in team.

But a play that is a winner take all prize for anyone brave enough to navigate the torturous ice of a broken divorce.

Author Kristen Da Silva sweeps the audience off your feet delivering two hours (including intermission) of good sportsmanship and funny family fun overlooking rinks any curler who has knelt, wiped and tossed a stone trying to make it curl to the bar button or at least into the house – or as close enough to please skip Terry (Tim Walker).

He’s a frustrated middle-aged athlete forced in mid-life to pin his hopes and dreams on having his Stayner’ foursome steal back the “regionals” from neighbouring Meaford.

Sounds like an episode of Corner Gas: Dog River vs. Woolerton (spit!)

He hopes a trophy will resolve his current dilemmas.

Set in what looks and feels authentically like the Bala Curling Club, Hurry Hard is about lovable loser Terry’s broken dream, after he injured his knee rescuing brother Bill who fell through ice and making Terry a “hero” to for saving his life.

Bill (Darren Keay) is a divorcee, who suffers years of unrequited love from his ex Sandy (Erin MacKinnon) a former team-mate has formed her own foursome.

The third on Team Terry is Johnnie, the jock and hunk Sandy’s best friend and – achingly new teammate – Darlene (Caitlin Driscoll) falls for. Darlene and Terry are splitsville, even if the old friends aren’t even an item.

Terry’s fourth is Darryl (Jack Ettlinger), who sadly lost his thumb in an auto accident ­- with and Johnnie – and can’t curl because doctors failed to graft his big toe onto his thumb.

If only …?

Sandy could fill in and save the day.

Hurry Hard is passion play full of hope and angst. Like a shot out of the hack that looks good until the sweepers come up just short.

Can Terry, Bill, Sandy, Johnnie and Darlene bring the home the rock?

Like any great team they have wins and losses.

Fortunately the audience comes out the winner especially in two brilliant, well-crafted and lighteningly-lit slow motion final actions scenes.

Which come full circle to resolve past, present and future storyline.

Hurry Hard runs to next Saturday, Aug. 22, with matinees. Call the Opera House at 705-687-5550 or go to their website at https://secure1.tixhub.com/Gravenhurst/online/eventpreview?cboEvent=14

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