Blyth Festival's "Dry Streak" is a hot, scorching comedy with a chance of rain

By: Liz Dadson June 21, 2026 244

Blyth Festival's "Dry Streak" is a hot, scorching comedy with a chance of rain

You don't have to live in a small town to enjoy the Blyth Festival's production of "Dry Streak" ... but it helps.

The humour is as dry as the hot, scorching Saskatchewan prairie, and this fast-paced, witty play will strike a chord with anyone who has lived in rural anywhere across this magnificent country we call Canada.

The brilliant ensemble cast is led by the patriarch of the family, Peter Richards, played beautifully by Benedict Campbell. Most of the hilarity is centred on his small-town farmer's reaction to what transpires, mainly when his son, John, brings home a punk-rock-loving vegetarian as his girlfriend.

Ironically, the girlfriend, Kate Allen, is played by none other than Brontae Hunter who was born and raised in Huron-Kinloss Township, south of Kincardine - a small-town girl and proud of it. She is fabulous as the city girl rambling about the farm, full of plans to build a rock garden, and eager to drive a tractor!

Joining her on stage are Robin Craig as Olive Richards, Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski as John Richards, David Kirby as newspaper man Rob Armstrong, Cameron Laurie as DJ Charlie Richards, and Smith Hallie Seline as Denise (Richards).

The backdrop to this hilarious story is Stony Valley, Saskatchewan, during the scorching summer of 1988. The Richards family farm is in peril because the rain won't come and crops are failing. In the middle of all this, Kate makes a pronouncement that if the rain finally falls, she'll run naked down the main street of town.

Of course, as in any small town, the local community newspaper runs the story which is picked up by the national press and CBC. John's sister, Denise, comes up with the idea to sell tickets to the event in order to raise money to save the local arena.

Then everyone starts watching the sky with bated breath, and you can actually hear the audience draw in one collective gasp as the thunder rolls, and it starts to rain!

Now what? Will Kate have to honour her pledge and run naked through town, casting aside her clothes along with her reputation? Will she and John have to leave the farm and the small town that they have both come to love?

You'll have to get a ticket to find out.

Written by Saskatchewan playwright and grain farmer Leann Minogue and directed by Kate Lynch, "Dry Streak" opened Friday night to a very appreciative audience, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation.

The show runs now through Aug. 16 on the indoor Margaret Stephens Stage at the Blyth Festival Theatre.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit blythfestival.com, or call the box office at 1-877-862-5984.