Feature Article September 16, 2004
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Little Theatre celebrates 25 years in a day of reminiscenceby Jeff Green
After months of planning, the North Frontenac Little Theatre threw a great party for itself and the community of theatre lovers last Saturday.
The party began with an afternoon Mad Hatter Tea Party. The Oso hall was decorated with costumes, parts of sets, photographs and other memorabilia from the 46 productions and 12 musicals that have been produced by the amateur theatre organization. Tea and treats were served to all who attended.
A dinner theatre at the Sharbot Lake High School followed. A two-hour performance of some highlights from former shows followed a dinner prepared by caterer Diane Lake. It was hosted by Pam Giroux, in the role of Alice, the original lead character from the inaugural show of the NFLT back in 1979, and Peter Platenius, in the persona of the narrator from Our Town which he played in 2001. Performers from 18 different shows, including musicals such as the Music Man (1981), Oklahoma (1987), Anne of Green Gables (1985 and 2000), Fiddler on the Roof (1996), Oliver (1990 and 2004), among others, reprised their roles. Amazingly, even years later, the performers seemed to fall back into their roles as if they had never left the stage. A good example is the Book Report song from Youre a Good Man Charlie Brown (1989). Inie Platenius, Kevin Long, Al Rankin and Rick Cairns displayed impeccable timing singing and acting the four different parts.
Matthew Zadow, who performed with the Little Theatre before moving away to pursue a singing career, performed Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma, and Almost Like being in Love from Brigadoon (1998), displaying considerable polish, as did Kristen Widenmaier on Far from the Home I Love from Fiddler on the Roof. There were many other memorable performances; in fact they were uniformly strong.
The Little Theatre has had its ups and downs over the years. There have been times when the core of volunteers and actors has waned, but John Pariselli has been a driving force from the beginning, as he was in producing the celebrations with John MacDougall, who has also been a stalwart from the start.
NFLT has always made room for younger actors, including children and teenagers, to perform and pick up theatrical skills. This year will be no exception. The next production, the werewolf spoof Hair Today Gone Tomorrow, will have a large cast of high school students and adults, and another musical is being planned for next spring.
When Alice in Wonderland was produced in 1979 people were amazed that such an event could take place in Sharbot Lake. It was a wonderful play to begin with, said Pam Giroux. We captured our audience right from the start and built up an enthusiasm among ourselves. It is even more remarkable to see that energy and enthusiasm sustained for 25 years, and interest in the Little Theatre is as strong as ever.
