Leisa Way and band here for good time, not a long time

They're here for a good time, but not a long time.

And that's unfortunate, as the Bluewater Summer Playhouse production of "Oh, Canada, We Sing for Thee!" is a tremendous tribute to Canadian singers, songwriters and musicians, past and present.

Created by Leisa Way, who also stars in the show with her magnificent Wayward Wind Band, the production opened Tuesday night to a packed house at the Kincardine Arts Centre.

Right from the opening bars of "We're Here For a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper, the show hooks you in and carries you on a wonderful journey across the True North Strong and Free, as you enjoy one song after another, all by Canada's biggest stars.

From the Barenaked Ladies, Kim Mitchell, KD Lang, Tom Cochrane and Anne Murray, to Paul Anka, Ian and Sylvia Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot and Buffy Ste. Marie, as well as French-Canadian music, First Nations and Metis drumming, Shania Twain, Leonard Cohen and Stompin' Tom Connors with "The Good Old Hockey Game."

And that's just Act 1.

One favourite is "Land of the Silver Birch" by Bonnie Dobson, taken from a poem by Canadian Aboriginal poet Pauline Johnson.

Act 2 features more great Canadian music, from Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business," to Burton Cummings, Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," Bryan Adams, Dan Hill, The Guess Who, Neil Young, The Nylons, and much more.

Joining Way on stage, are Bobby Prochaska on bass and lead vocals; Fred Smith on guitar, banjo, harmonica and lead vocals; Nathan Smith on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and lead vocals; Bruce Ley on piano, guitar and background vocals; and Sam Cino on drums.

In the second half, Nathan Smith plays a breath-taking tribute to fiddlers Don Messer and Stan Rogers.

There is so much to enjoy about this show - the incredible music, the various outfits that Way wears to portray different Canadian stars, the references to "You know you're a Canadian when ..." but most of all, the incredible music!

It's an amazing show from start to finish, but it's here only until Thursday, so get a ticket and go see it!

"Oh, Canada, We Sing For Thee," runs Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Thursday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Kincardine Arts Centre in downtown Kincardine.



Joining Leisa Way (centre) for "Oh, Canada, We Sing For Thee," are Fred Smith (left), Sam Cino, Bobby Prochaska, Nathan Smith and Bruce Ley; photos courtesy of the Bluewater Summer Playhouse

The final show of the Bluewater Playhouse season is "Beatlemania" (right), which has a two-day run: Thursday, Sept. 1, and Friday, Sept. 2, at 8 p.m.

You can get your tickets through the Bluewater Summer Playhouse Box Office at 707 Queen St. or by calling the Box Office at 519-396-5722. You can also purchase tickets on-line at the website www.bluewatersummerplayhouse.com.