The Play’s the thing — North Frontenac Little Theatre celebrates 40 years

Craig Bakay | Aug 21, 2019

In her address to the North Frontenac Little Theatre’s 40 years celebration Friday night in Tichborne, Nina Jenkins posed the question.

“I wonder if the group who got together for Alice in Wonderland ever dreamed it would still be going 40 years later.”

“No,” said John Pariselli, a charter member who acted as president and artistic director for the company’s first two years.

“We got together with some creative people and the original plan was to do one production (Alice in Wonderland),” he said.

But Pariselli had been involved in acting in one way or another since he was 8 years old. In fact, he was on live radio for three years in Toronto when he was 10 in the CKEY production Peter and the Dwarf (“I was Peter,” he said).

But, continued to approach life in an artistic fashion, including a long teaching career.

“Teaching is inspiring creativity in kids,” he said.

So, small wonder he’d be involved in “about half” of the 68 shows NFLT has produced over the years, as actor, director, whatever was needed.

“Acting is an opportunity to take on another person’s persona,” he said. “To delve into that person’s psyche.

“Directing is helping other people do that.”

“No,” was also the way current president Pam Giroux responded.

“I saw an ad in the North Frontenac News and thought ‘that’s for me,’” she said. “I was a young mom of 35, had a two-year-old and three other boys and I wanted a creative outlet.

“I played Alice and had the most lines.”

All of her four sons have been in NFLT productions and one, Cam, even went on to win best actor in the Sears Drama Festival. Her husband, Marcel, has served as producer.

Even so, it was “an opportunity to get out of the house and leave the kids with Marcel,” she said. “I am certainly proud to have been a part of all this.

“And now, we want some new blood — that’s what keeps it fresh.”

“Who would have thunk it?” said Brian Robertson, who has “done every job there is to do in this theatre company.”

Robertson said he thought the company has managed to continue this long is because “it captured the imagination of the city folk who ended up here but also the locals as well.

“It’s been a place of refuge, home, family.”

Jenkins echoed those sentiments.

“It’s the many talented volunteers, the hours,” she said. “Lighting, programs, stages, it’s impossible to estimate how many hours it takes.

“For some, acting is their thing. For others, it’s being behind the scenes.

“All the jobs are important — whatever job they do is important.”