In 1976, entrepreneur Don Groom wanted a vacation to recharge, so he took a year off to travel Europe and North America. The trip gave him the break he needed and the concept for which he has become so well known in the Maritimes. During his travels, he visited several dinner theatres, and one in Houston, Texas, particularly captured his interest. It was a Henry VIII themed show, where wenches served dinner, and the audience ate with their hands. Laughter filled the room as the crowd reveled in this simple mix of tasty food and comedic improv. Groom thought such a dinner theatre could work on P.E.I. – particularly if it had a storyline. So a few years later, when the basement of his Brothers II restaurant sat largely empty, he gave it a try. He teamed up with Toronto director Briane Nasimok, and they created “The Governor’s Feast” – an evening of food, music, comedy and improv set in 1800s P.E.I. Though sales started slowly, soon the cast performed for sold-out audiences raving about the fun they’d had at what would become “the Feast.”
Since that summer in 1979, Groom and his company, White Rose Entertainment Inc., have delivered more than 150 productions across the Maritimes, making the Feast the longest-running creator of dinner theatre in Canada. After three years of tremendous success with the Governor’s Feast (1979-1981), the company staged two more historical shows: the Prohibition Feast (1982-1983) and the Flyer’s Feast (1984-1986). Then in 1987, the Feast appealed to an even broader audience with themed dinner theatres that immersed guests in the music, comedy and storylines of beloved eras. “Summer of ’61” debuted that summer, and the Feast has continued to celebrate the ‘50s, ‘60s and contemporary culture – while mixing in local comedy and nuance. The first Christmas production debuted in 1991, and these holiday shows have since become favourites for corporate events and family and friends wanting a taste of the food, music and comedy of the season. In 2012, Groom began developing R***e Productions and Shows, which entertains convention and conference participants with themed sketch comedy, improv and music. Over the years, locations have expanded – first to Charlottetown and then to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and even Alberta. The Feast continues at Brothers 2 (now owned by David Groom) and the Rodd Charlottetown, and regularly visits Montague, P.E.I., Miramichi, N.B., and Yarmouth and White Point, N.S. The cast attracts some of the strongest Maritime musical and comedic talents – many of whom pursue careers in performance and the arts. No matter what the show or venue, guests can expect an evening full of laughs and free of worries – just like the one Groom experienced at his first dinner theatre almost 40 years ago.
