The Bessie Carruthers Study Club
Schedule
Sat Jul 27 2024 at 02:00 pm to 03:30 pm
Location
Beaconsfield Historic House | Charlottetown, PE
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Join us in the Carriage House on Saturday July 27, 2pm.Tickets $25 at the door
Imagine if a renowned British composer and suffragist had visited Charlottetown in 1919, inspiring local women to work for the vote? That’s the premise behind pianist Jennifer King and mezzo-soprano Suzanne Campbell’s original musical show, The Bessie Carruthers Study Club, touring Nova Scotia and PEI this summer.
Although the meeting didn’t happen, the historical characters were real. British musician, composer, and renowned suffragist Ethel Smyth (now known as Dame Smyth) has been rediscovered as a significant composer of the last century, and a formidable voice in the work of British suffragettes. The PEI connection, Bessie Carruthers, played an important role in persuading political leaders of the day to grant women the right to vote on PEI. Coincidentally, Carruthers is a distant relation of singer Suzanne Campbell, and a close relative to former PEI Premier Catherine Callbeck.
Produced by Pirate Jenny Productions, The Bessie Carruthers Study Club stars Suzanne Campbell as Bessie with Jennifer King portraying Smyth.
Described as a “delightful musical rumination” (ruk.ca) The Bessie Carruthers Study Club was one of nine shows selected to be part of the 2019 Island Fringe Festival where it performed to sold-out, standing-room-only audiences throughout the festival.
Audience members of all ages enjoyed the portrayal of Bessie Carruthers and Ethel Smyth as well as the audience-participation aspect of the show.
A review by Sean McQuaid in The Buzz described the show as “a playfully thoughtful and amusing look back at women’s earlier struggles, made more appealing by the Campbell/King duo’s fine singing and King’s formidable piano skills. Their slate of period tunes includes several audience sing-along numbers, making the show more immersive and fun.”
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Where is it happening?
Beaconsfield Historic House, 2 Kent Street,Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays: