Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears
One Man. Many Voices. An Irish tapestry of humour
and heart.
GUELPH, ON – April 2026
— In Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears, veteran Ontario
actor and storyteller Jay Wilson offers an evening of richly
theatrical storytelling drawn from the spirit of rural Ireland. On
Thursday, April 9 at 8 p.m. in the River Run Centre’s Studio
Theatre, Wilson inhabits a gallery of unforgettable characters —
revealing lives shaped by resilience, mischief, longing, and love.
With more than five decades of experience on
stage, Wilson moves fluidly from one voice to another, embodying
figures such as Fiddler O’Flaherty, the formidable Widow O’Donnell,
Devlin Haggerty — and even Frances O’Feline, a cat of uncommon
presence. Each portrait is rendered with emotional nuance and a deep
respect for the rhythms of oral tradition, where laughter and loss
are never far apart.
The production is adapted from a collection of
stories by the late Charlene Herrold, a long-time family friend whose
writing captured the cadence and character of Irish village life.
When Wilson first encountered her work, he recognized in it the bones
of theatre — intimate monologues alive with possibility. What began
as a creative exploration gradually grew into a fully realized
one-person show and a tribute to both the author and the storytelling
tradition she cherished.
Early presentations with the Guelph Guild of
Storytellers gradually evolved into a full one-person production.
Following sold-out performances at Theatre Collingwood’s 2023
Porchside Festival, Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears has
continued to resonate with audiences across Ontario. The production
blends theatrical craft with heartfelt storytelling, inviting
audiences into a world where wit softens sorrow and every life, no
matter how ordinary, carries quiet significance.
This show is part of the Showcase Series, which
features one-of-a-kind, theatrical performances. It is proudly
supported by River Run’s 2025/26 Season Sponsor, Richardson Wealth,
as well as with funding from the Government of Canada.
Tickets to Lilt of Laughter, Trace of Tears are
$30 for adults, $28 for patrons over 60 years old, and $25 for those
under 30. Sliding Scale tickets are available for $10 and $20. For
more information or to purchase, call 519-763-3000, visit River Run’s
Box Office at 35 Woolwich Street in Guelph, or go to
https://riverrun.ca/whats-on/lilt-of-laughter-trace-of-tears/.
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