by Nicola Ryan
Talk about strolling down memory lane! I’ve traipsed down this leafy path in St. John’s many times. It runs behind Merrymeeting Road past Yetman’s Arena towards Holy Heart High School on Bonaventure Avenue. Today, I’m here to watch the cast and crew of Son of a Critch film a fresh episode of the nostalgic CBC series. Young Mark’s heading off to high school in Season Four, and this shortcut’s taking me right back to my own days at Holy Heart in the 1990s. On this summer morning though, the school’s buzzing with crewmembers, and production’s in full swing. With a familiar twinge of first-day nervous excitement, I head in through the main doors. In the lobby, there’s a poster of a Sony Walkman, and a nun sitting in a stacking chair —maybe some things never change. Publicist Lisa Ghione welcomes me and gives me a headset to listen in on a scene currently filming in the library. It’s like stepping into the heart of the action as she leads me down a brightly lit hallway, giving a rare behind-the-scenes peek into the making of a TV series. Techies dart in and out, moving with quiet precision as they shuffle cables and gear. A designer makes last-minute tweaks to a costume, directors watch intently as each take is filmed with meticulous attention. The whole set hums with a quiet mix of energy and focus.
Since the series first premiered in January 2022, Son of a Critch continues to be the most-watched original Canadian comedy series in the country and one of the most-streamed comedies on CBC Gem. Based on the award-winning, best-selling memoir from local comedy favourite Mark Critch, Son of a Critch is a heartfelt show; a window into the life of now 14-year-old Mark as he comes of age in a nostalgic era of St. John’s. It stars Mark, portraying his father Mike, with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth playing young Mark. He (young Mark) ducks out of a dressing room to say hello and I’m dazzled by how tall and British he is. Other cast members on set today are Mark Ezekiel Rivera as Ritche, Sophia Powers as Fox, Maya McNair as Cara, and Daisy Haris as Tina. Claire Rankin plays Mark’s mom Mary, and the nun in the lobby, of course, was Nora McLellan as Sister Rose.
“I think it’s really interesting, just coming back and seeing how much the kids have grown and changed and how much more mature they’re becoming,” Claire says. “To see physically how they’ve changed, but also to see how their interests have grown and their skills. They’re such talented actors and they’re such a joy to work with.
“It’s like summer camp where we all come together,” she adds. “We may not see each other the rest of the year, we’re back to our regular lives. And then we all land here in St. John’s and we spend the whole summer together in this wonderful bubble.”
The show’s based on Mark’s real-life experiences growing up – and in the particular’s contained the universal, as they say. It’s a story of family, friendship, and growing up, told with a gentle humour that highlights the quirks and bonds of small-town life. In the new season, Mark’s on the cusp of a new decade – one of Video Dance Parties, Magic 97 and the Peace-a-Chord. Who can’t relate to those youthful feelings of promise and potential? Season four’s all about passion and Mark’s chasing something great, even if he’s wearing uncool loafers. With its mix of sweet moments and poignant lessons, Son of a Critch resonates with audiences of all ages.
Lisa leads me down an unfamiliar-looking hallway where I’m ushered into a side room to meet Mark and Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer, Tim McAuliffe. I’m fairly starstruck – among other things, Mark’s been the host of CBC’s long-running This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Tim was a writer/producer on NBC’s Emmy-winning comedy classic The Office and wrote for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. (Other Executive Producers are Andrew Barnsley, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer of Schitt’s Creek and hometown hero Allan Hawco of Republic of Doyle.) I try to gracefully climb into a director’s chair between them as they intently watch the library scene on a monitor.
“We have a very happy set,” Mark says, in between reminiscences of a certain vintage of St. John’s school days. “We have such talented people in every department. We have a lot to get done but we try to keep it loose and happy and as stress-free as we possibly can. And you know, it’s a real joy as someone who’s had to travel a bit for work, like, you know, all Newfoundlanders like to be home. And for me, this is like a five-minute walk from my house. So to be able to wake up, walk out the door, come to work with all my friends and make a show… if I could tell young me that? It’s amazing. I’d say it was a dream come true, but I wouldn’t even have dreamt it at that age. It’s been a real gift.”
Mark and Tim chat about the young actors. They’re clearly impressed, swapping stories about how the cast is nailing those familiar high school moments.
“Well, it’s amazing. Benjamin was one of the best actors I’ve ever seen when I first met him a couple of years ago. But we forget how young he was. But now he’s a young man. And he’s growing in skill every year. What I love about the kids is, they’re all great actors but they’re truly really nice, polite, lovely people and we all kind of spend the summer in each other’s pockets and the weekends we’re always together and things like that, so you do get a real sense of family and it’s amazing to watch them all grow. But I couldn’t be prouder of the real people they are.”
A bell rings, signalling the end of filming, and I’m on my way again. As I leave the set behind, it’s hard not to feel a mix of excitement and curiosity — Mark’s high school adventures are just beginning, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
CBC’s hit original comedy series Son of a Critch Season 4 premieres on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 on CBC and CBC Gem.
