Step back into the sunlit haze of 1950s Ontario cottage country with That Summer, a beautifully crafted drama by celebrated Canadian playwright David French. Narrated by Margaret Ryan in 1990, the play revisits the pivotal summer of her youth—a season of first love, heartbreak, and the bittersweet loss of innocence.

Through Margaret and her vivacious sister Daisy, the story unfolds as a lyrical meditation on fleeting moments that linger forever. With echoes of Dirty Dancing and My American Cousin, That Summer captures the charm and nostalgia of a time gone by, weaving humor, warmth, and wistful reflection.

Hailed as “a lyrical and beautifully constructed meditation on the passage of time” (Canadian Book Review), “gentle, moving, and decidedly literary” (Quill & Quire), and “as refreshing as a summer storm after a heat wave” (Kitchener-Waterloo Record), this play is a masterwork that speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever cherished the memories of a life-changing summer.

These performances are free. Reserve your seat today.

The Guy Lombardo Pavilion is an easy walk or bike ride in Springbank Gardens.