- The best in the supporting dept, Bill Wood
I’ve always been tickled by the moniker Merritt Awards, named for the late, great Nova Scotian playwright Robert Merritt, because of the lovely wordplay. However, after Tuesday night’s annual bash, a name change to “The Two Planks and a Passion Awards” may be in order.
The valley company, led by director Ken Schwartz, has dominated the outstanding production category for three years, including this year’s win for the unforgettable Rockbound.
Canadian composer Alan Cole, who flew in from Toronto to attend the ceremony, went home with awards for Outstanding Original Score and Outstanding New Play by a Nova Scotian, also for Rockbound.
“Well that went well!” he exclaimed. “I must say that I’m really moved.”
The Merritts returned to Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing after a foray to the more staid confines of Neptune’s Fountain Hall last year. Mary Colin Chisholm and Christian Murray hosted, and the tone was some how kinder and gentler than other years, though no less funny.
Among the video snippets—which included a hilarious look into the future for our city’s thespians and a clever, catchy Chekhov rap—was a very touching tribute to members of the theatre community who have died in the past few years.
Picnicface’s Bill Wood seemed genuinely surprised to win best supporting actor for his role as the sneaky, snakey Hermann in 2b theatre’s East of Berlin. He declared the entire evening a “spot-on” success.
2010 MERRITT AWARD WINNERS:
BEST ACTOR: Duncan Fraser, Calum MacDonald, No Great Mischief, Neptune Theatre
BEST ACTRESS: Shelley Thompson, Florence Jenkins, Glorious, Festival Antigonish
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Bill Wood, Hermann, East of Berlin, 2b theatre
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Burgundy Code, Anapest Kraus, Rockbound, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR: Ken Schwartz, Rockbound, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN: Louisa Adamson, Poor Boy, Zuppa Theatre/Neptune Theatre
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN: Patrick Clarke, The Game of Love and Chance, Neptune Theatre
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN: Will Perkins, Homage, 2b theatre
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN: Mike Ross, No Great Mischief, Neptune Theatre
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCORE: Allen Cole, Rockbound, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY BY A NOVA SCOTIAN: Allen Cole, Rockbound, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION: Rockbound, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre.
LEGACY AWARD: Jean Morpurgo
VOLUNTEER AWARDS: Perry Kossatz and Aaron Harpell
MAYOR’S AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THEATRE: Jeremy Webb
MAYOR’S EMERGING THEATRE ARTIST AWARD: Natasha MacLellan
TECHNICIAN AWARD: Ian Pygott
STAGE MANAGER AWARD: Sylvia Bell
This article appears in Mar 25-31, 2010.