A popular and iconic Maritime thrift store takes centre stage as Eastern Front Theatre brings Frenchy’s: The Thrift Musical to Dartmouth, N.S. “It came from the Maritimes, actually. The playwright David Craig, his partner in life is an actor who had worked in Prince Edward Island and while there her acting companion was obsessed with thrift stores and David started attending with them and started realizing what great things you can find in thrift stores,” says director Patricia Vanstore. Vanstore says Craig thought it was a great idea for a family to have a road trip to Frenchy’s, so why not turn it into a play. “We all know there are Frenchy’s road trips that happen all the time with gal pals or busloads of Frenchy’s fans, so we just thought it was a fabulous way to explore transformation,” says Vanstone. Frenchy’s: The Thrift Musical tells the story of three generations of East Coast family members searching the aisles for new lives and wardrobes. When the night takes a turn, their personalities clash, which sets the scene for a hilarious journey. Actor Mélanie LeBlanc is from Moncton says Frenchy’s holds a special place for her so to be a part of a play about it has been fun. “Being part of a new musical is a gift and it’s not a gift that happens all that often and a new Canadian musical even rarer and about Frenchy’s which is such a regular Maritime thing but also such an iconic maritime thing and part of my families culture so being part of creating that, being part of that joyful creation of course I want to be part of that,” says LeBlanc who plays Marg in the musical. The musical made its world premiere in Nova Scotia this July at the Ships Company Theatre in Parrsboro. Vanstone described that event like Christmas in July because it sold out. Now the stage is set at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth as Eastern Front Theatre’s first production of the season. “It speaks to me how popular and what a nerve Eastern Front and the Ships Company has touched by bringing this show and this content to a Nova Scotian audience,” says Vanstone. Vanstone says they have already sold quite a few tickets and are excited to put on the show from Oct. 16 to Nov. 1. Her hope is the show gets the opportunity to perform all over the Maritimes. “Hopefully we will be back in another venue in the Maritimes. It has been selling so well and people love Frenchy’s so much. It’s a true Maritime store and I think the great thing about it is that everybody who comes feels ownership about thrifting, about all of the things,” says Vanstone. “They can come for the laughs and the fun but I think they will leave with the characters having grown on them and maybe even found a bit of themselves in the show,” say Leblanc. Tickets are available online or at the Alderney Landing box office. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
