For their spring production, pressed with venue restrictions, the NFLT chose well with their pick of two short one-act comedies by Norm Foster, which were presented on April 25, 26 and 27.

The two plays, which called for small casts, simple costumes, and pared down sets, lighting and sound, were all cleverly adapted to the smaller stages of the Crossing Pub and Oso Hall where the three performances took place. The plot lines of the two plays were anything but simple and the players rose to the challenge, bringing lots of life and laughter to the three well-attended performances.

Real-life couple Kathy and Noel Bateman were both wholly believable and hilarious as Lacey and Miles in the first play "My Narrator". The plot tells of their attempts to surmount the usual and more unusual hurdles of dating. She, a struggling, well-mannered and earnest painter, and he a scruffy, poor-mannered but good hearted lay-about hoser, appear to be making headway in a new romance until the voices in their heads (their narrators) vie for the upper hand. First it is Lacy's narrator Barb, played to great comic effect by Andrea Dickinson who discourages Lacy's interest in Miles. The situation becomes even more complicated and hilarious as Miles acquires his own narrator Bob, played by John Stephen. The play uses the narrator premise to great comic effect with Lacy and Miles either vehemently opposing or coming under the spell of their individual narrators, who throughout the play stand behind them on a cleverly constructed two-tiered set. The plot becomes increasingly confused and comedic as narrators Barb and Bob begin to fall for one another.

Some of the highlights of this production included Lacy's unbridled disgust with Miles' choice of restaurant with its strange and sticky menus. Similarly Miles' fizzy beer scene appeared ingeniously ad-libbed with perfect comic effect by both Batemans who rose to the challenge and remained in character, making what might have been an awkward on-stage moment, a very hilarious one. Kathy was perfect as the earnest, sometimes sweet, but often shocked Lacy, and Noel was cast perfectly as the slovenly, oddly likeable good-hearted hoser Miles.

Similarly, Andrea and John as the narrators were given many chances to shine. One of their funniest scenes occurred when Bob was making passes at the normally headstrong and self-possessed Barb, who melts like a flower when Bob takes a shine to her. Similarly, the sudden appearance of the two, all flustered and flummoxed after a passionate behind-the-tier romantic tryst, was one of the play's funniest moments.

In the second play, "The Death of Me", Norm Foster proves that death can indeed be the springboard to many belly laughs. The play opens with the black-winged, heartless, sarcastic and very business-like Angel of Death, played masterfully by Ellie Steele, who brushes aside the bumbling confused concerns of a very ineffectual John Adderly, also perfectly cast and played by Craig Godfrey, who appears in her office out of the blue after suffering a deadly aortic aneurysm. After the angel coldly but clearly explains his unfortunate demise, Adderly begs for a chance to go back to earth to spare his mother the pain of finding his dead body. The angel eventually agrees but with one catch; that the saintly John tell off the fiancée who left him, in the angel’s words, “like a shovel at the altar”. In that meeting John's loud-mouthed, brash and bullying fiancée Cassie, played to great effect by Barb Matson, demonstrates her desperate inner loneliness in a quick turnaround that lasts just a short minute before she reverts to her usual self.

Next John meets with his doctor to find out why the doctor did not properly diagnose his deadly heart ailment at an earlier check up. Veteran NFLTer John Pariselli nailed the stereotypical accent, mannerisms and attitudes of a doctor who thinks more about cars, money and the quality of the table service he gets than the health of his patients. The kicker comes at the play’s end when everyone gets their just desserts: the Angel of Death welcomes the doctor to her office and John is granted a second chance at life.

Both plays were immensely enjoyed by the audience, who showed their appreciation by their laughter throughout the performances.

North Frontenac Little Theatre is excited to present two one act plays by Norm Foster at the end of April.

Norm Foster is our group’s favourite Canadian comedy writer. We’ve performed several of his plays before: Maggie’s Getting Married, The Foursome and Opening Night. He has a way of making us laugh and sneaking in a warm, fuzzy message that will stay with us.

Imagine what would happen if that little voice inside your head – the one that tells you how to behave and what choices to make – suddenly took on a life of its own?

My Narrator, is a sweet romantic comedy with a twist. Lacy (Kathy Bateman) is a struggling artist with poor taste in men. Miles (Noel Bateman) is a bumbling but sweet loser. The two hardly seemed destined for a romantic future together until their own personal internal narrators—embodied by Andrea Dickinson and John Stephen—discover a mutual attraction.

When John bargains with the Angel of Death for a second chance at life, he quickly discovers that fixing the mistakes of your past is difficult, and that perhaps his destiny is not yet etched in stone.

The Death of Me is when nice guy John Adderly (Craig Godfrey) argues with the Angel of Death (Ellie Steele) about the injustice of having suffered a fatal aneurism and wants a second chance to correct things And when John finally gets to go back for the 12 hours before he left off and informs the Angel that he will be going back to where he began his fateful last day on earth, Steele’s character derisively exclaims, "Twelve hours of life -- and you're going back to work?" So John returns to confront his ex-fiancé (Barb Matson) and his doctor (John Pariselli) with hilarious results.

Since the Granite Ridge Education Centre stage isn’t ready, NFLT will be presenting its production at the Oso Community Hall in Sharbot Lake on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m.

For the first time, we will also be performing our Dinner Theatre package at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn on Friday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. For dinner theatre tickets please contact Nina Jenkins at 613-279-2945.

Saturday and Sunday tickets can be purchased at our ticket vendors: Gray’s Grocery and Sharbot Lake Pharmacy.

You won’t want to miss “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, written by Barbara Robinson, being presented next weekend by the North Frontenac Little Theatre.

If you were ever in a Christmas pageant as a child, forced to wear your father's bathrobe as a shepherd, stood around with angel wings and a halo, or were the lucky ones who got to play Mary and Joseph, you'll enjoy this play. If you directed a Sunday school pageant, taught Sunday school or worked with children, you'll want to see this play. People of all ages who like to laugh will want to see this play and some more sensitive types may even find themselves shedding a tear near the end. This delightful story takes a comical yet poignant look at a church congregation putting on what is anything but a typical pageant!

Perennial pageant director Mrs. Armstrong breaks her leg and someone needs to take over the pageant this year. Reluctantly giving in to the pressures of the church ladies, young mother and wife Grace Bradley agrees to take the pageant on. Grace (played by Janet Revell of Verona) is not aware that Mrs. Armstrong (Martina Field) does not intend to relinquish control of the casting, nor is she aware of, let alone ready for, the infamous HERDMAN FAMILY!

The Herdman children are a street-wise family of six young thugs who apparently have no parents or curfew. They are led by 12-year-old, cigar smoking Imogene, (Kelsea Babcock). When they learn that there is free food and drinks at Sunday school, Imogene and her siblings take over the pageant. The Herdman boys think that a hit should be put out on King Herod and wonder why they were going to pay their taxes in a hotel anyway!

Grace Bradley sets out on a mission, with husband Bob (Barry Harding), not only to teach the Herdmans the story of Christmas, but allow for the whole congregation to revisit the true meaning of the story and by doing so. make this "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" You'll agree that it is when young Gladys Herdman (Violet Skuce) shoves her fist at you and bellows out, "Hey you, a child was born, now git in there and see him!"

The cast of over 36 children and 10 adults comes from Verona to MacDonalds Corners, Sharbot Lake to Clarendon and Arden. It includes a gossipy group of church ladies played by Sandy Robertson, Angela Sproule, Cathy Ryan and Samantha Lusk; the Reverend Hopkins by Leslie Pickard; and the Herdman boys by Cody Steeves, Devon Clarke and Johnny Skuce.

Strong performances come from Dayna Stone as Alice, Joelle Parr as Beth Bradley, Cody Matson playing Charlie Bradley and Sydney Teal as Maxine. The whole show is narrated by Kaitlyn Hannah. There are children in a choir, angels and even a sheep!

Tickets are selling fast, so don't miss what will be an enjoyable start to this Christmas season.

The show runs December 3 through 6 at Sharbot Lake High School. Check out our season at nflt.ca.

As rehearsals for NFLT’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” head into their final weeks, “things are coming together beautifully,” according to stage manager Karin Reynold.  

The six shepherds are experimenting with their crooks, the boy playing the lamb has learned to go “b-aa” loudly, and the baby angels are practicing Christmas carols.

White sheets and bathrobes are being transformed into costumes for angels, shepherds and wise men by a hard-working backstage crew. At first glance, these could be rehearsals for any Christmas pageant from the past hundred years.

But this Christmas Pageant, adapted from a beloved children’s book by Barbara Robinson, has a twist or two. For instance, one of the wise men is carrying an unusual gift.

In addition, many of the children acting in the pageant are encouraged by director Sarah Hale to be on their worst behaviour! It is hoped that by performance time they won’t forget how to be bad, because after all, they are very good kids in real life. They’ve worked hard to learn their lines and movements on and off the stage. It’s a big commitment of time and energy, especially this year when so many families have been down with colds and flu. Just in case - important characters, from Mary and Joseph to little Gladys Herdman, the terror of the town, have understudies. For many young actors, that means learning two parts.

One thing is certain; if “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is as lively as the rehearsals, it’s a treat not to be missed on the first weekend in December, the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th!

According to Producer Craig Godfrey, the upcoming production by North Frontenac Little Theatre is actually a play based on the popular short story by Barbara Robinson.

The comedy, which has a play within the play, follows the small town church group as they try to prepare for their Christmas Pageant.

When the perennial director of the local pageant breaks her leg, the church ladies panic to save the pageant. They find a willing director in one of the moms, Grace Bradley. Grace thinks it should be a nice pleasant experience but she didn’t count on two problems.

Mrs. Armstrong still wants to control everything from her hospital bed, driving Grace mad with phone calls, but that is the least of her problems.

Grace had never heard of “The Herdmans”. When word gets out that there’s free food and drinks at Sunday school rehearsals, the six, apparently parentless hooligans show up and take over the auditions.

Grace’s daughter Beth describes the Herdman Kids as a wild pack. She also says, “The Herdmans tore through the local school like those South American fish that tear the flesh of your bones.”

For a while chaos reins, but Grace sets her mind to make this year’s pageant “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”!

With 10 adults and 20 children and teens, you won’t want to miss a moment of the fun. There really is a little pageant at the end!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run the weekend of December 3 through 6th in Sharbot Lake High School’s auditorium.

It’s been an exciting and challenging year with the construction of the new school in Sharbot Lake. Some of us have had the opportunity to peek into the new building to see how it will be useable for NFLT productions.

WOW! It’s a larger stage; has a green room (music/drama room) that is accessible from the rear of the stage; and stairs at the side of the stage that lead up to a classroom on the 3rd floor that can be used as well for costume changes, etc.

The lighting grid, stage flooring and backstage curtains are not set up yet; however the executive felt that we could not go another season without a production. Therefore we will have to do our Spring 2014 production in another location.

The best option seemed to be to do a one-act comedy with a small cast and flexible staging. What better to fit the bill than Norm Foster! We’ve done several of his plays in the past with great success: Ethan Claymore, The Foursome, Maggie’s Getting Married, and Opening Night. Audiences enjoy his humour, and casts and crew enjoy preparing the plays. Norm Foster has two one-act plays that we are going to do this spring.

"My Narrator": Imagine what would happen if that little voice inside your head — the one that tells you how to behave and what choices to make — suddenly took on a life of its own? For Lacy and Miles, love is what happens, and with hilarious results. “My Narrator” has two male and two female characters age range mid-twenties and up.

"The Death of Me": When John bargains with the Angel of Death for a second chance at life, he quickly discovers that fixing the mistakes of your past is difficult, and that perhaps his destiny is not yet etched in stone. “The Death of Me” has two male and two female characters, age range mid-20s and up.

At this point we’re not sure where we’ll perform these plays but we’re looking at the end of April for performance dates. We are currently looking for: a director(s): each one-act could have its own director; stage manager: minimum stage managing required (could also be the prompter); and a producer. Please contact John Pariselli 613-279-2662 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bards, buffs and behind the scene-ers of the North Frontenac Little Theatre (NFLT) filled the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake for their first ever lifetime achievement awards ceremony. Like all great awards ceremonies, this one offered up fine food and fancy fashions; a fabulously talented, tuxed and tailed emcee, Brian Robertson; some very off the wall comedy thanks to a few NFLT veterans; and some great live musical entertainment courtesy of Toute Ensemble and Fiddlers and Friends. Add to that six heartfelt speeches, each honoring special members of the community who have shaped the North Frontenac Little Theatre over its 35-year history, and you had one very special night to remember.

Town Crier Paddy O'Connor opened up the evening and summed up in a nutshell what the NFLT continues to bring to this community. “Amateur theatre strengthens the cultural environment and provides an emotional and creative outlet for those participating and for those observing. It is indeed time that this special tribute is awarded to the six recipients for their countless hours, days, weeks, and months of dedicated volunteer service to making our community a better place to live”.

NFLT president Nina Jenkins spoke of the NFLT's history, which dates back to 1979 when John Pariselli put an ad in this paper. The ad attracted 15 other thespians and they worked together to assemble a cast and crew of 35, who put on the NFLT's memorable inaugural performance, "Alice in Wonderland". The play had a sold out run, which demonstrated the local thirst for live amateur theatre, and which the NFLT would continue to quench over the next 35 years in more than 70 shows that included musicals, dramas, comedies, children's shows and one-act plays. The productions have involved over 200 members of the community over three and a half decades.

Michel Alarcon spoke of the importance of seeding the ground for the upcoming next generation of theatre thespians and buffs to keep the tradition of NFLT alive and well in the community. Interspersed throughout the evening were the presentations to the six recipients by their long-time NFLT comrades.

Margaret Bell, who was one of the organization's original founding members, presented the first award of the evening to John Pariselli, founder of the NFLT. “The NFLT would not exist as we know it today without John, his vision and his direction,” Bell said. John Pariselli has taken part in dozens of NFLT productions, sometimes simultaneously as director, actor, and producer as well as behind the scenes technician, and has been a continuous member of the executive for decades. He not only maintains the NFLT's web page, but has written numerous grant proposals that have allowed the NFLT to acquire much needed materials. He also personally made possible the purchase of the little white church in Tichborne, the NFLT's permanent home.

Pam Giroux presented the second award of the evening to someone she called “the Queen Mum of the NFLT”, Marjorie Fossey, who was another founding member along with her late husband Glen. Fossey has been active in the theatre since its first production and in Pam's words “had a hand in creating, designing and painting all of the sets during the 1980s and 1990s. Wherever she was needed she was there giving her time, selflessly and I don't think I have ever met a more humble, kind, and generous person than Marjorie.”

Lynda Boulter presented the award to Dawn Hansen, who had a decades-long role as stage manager with NFLT beginning in 1984 and who also volunteered for years on the executive as well as acting and singing in a number of productions. Dawn was honored by Boulter as someone who “loved what she did and who mentored others to learn the role of stage manager at the NFLT.”

Doug Boulter presented the awards to John and Ann McDougall, a couple whose extraordinary talents have brought music to countless members of the communities in South, Central and North Frontenac both as music teachers and as members of the NFLT. John made his premiere at the NFLT as Humpty Dumpty in "Alice in Wonderland" and performed in numerous roles over the years. His prowess as a musician saw him in the role of musical director for the productions of "Music Man", "L'il Abner", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Brigadoon", "The King and I" and "South Pacific". Ann, who is well known near and far for her talents as a piano player and piano teacher, provided piano support at countless rehearsals and also for the staging of "The Music Man", "Li'l Abner", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", "Nunsense II", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Brigadoon", "The King and I", "Oliver" and "South Pacific". Ann also took to the stage in choral support parts as well as playing the part of Mrs. Pye in "Anne of Green Gables".

Paddy O'Connor had the honor of presenting Peter Platenius with the sixth award and praised Peter with the words, “We know how talented he is, how dedicated he is, how dependable he is, how creative he is, how thoughtful he is, how generous he is, and how he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He [Platenius] is a perfect choice for this honour.” Peter played many roles on stage including the narrator in "Our Town" and worked behind the scenes for countless productions creating memorable sets and props for "Anne of Green Gables" and "Noises Off", as O'Connor said, “doing anything and everything from A to Z.”

Each life time achiever received a medal, and the memorable event, which was admittedly long overdue, demonstrated how the NFLT is such an important cultural mainstay in the community and one that continues to bring together hundreds of like-minded individuals to celebrate their love of the theatre.

Four dead nuns in the convent freezer? Believe it or not, that's the problem that must be solved in the hilarious musical Nunsense, now in rehearsal at Sharbot Lake high school by North Frontenac Little Theatre. The Frontenac County health inspector is on the way, so a dedicated group of seven nuns from the convent of Our Lady of Sharbot Lake are presenting a fundraiser to raise enough money to bury the nuns who died after eating soup infected with botulism. Don't worry, you won't be asked to give money to this fundraiser (other than buying your ticket!). The nuns will discover a solution to their problem of where to get the money. All you have to do is enjoy the fun as each one entertains you with song, dance, riddles and stories. Tickets will soon be available in Verona at the hardware store and in Sharbot Lake at Gray's Grocery and the Pharmacy. Nunsense runs Thursday, April 29 7:30 p.m. $12 adult, $10 student; Friday April 30, 7:30 p.m. $12 adult, $10 student; Saturday May 1, Dinner Theatre 6 p.m. $27; Sunday May 2, Matinee, 2pm $12 adult, $10 student.

In an awards ceremony slated for November the 16 (which some are dubbing the “It’s about time” awards), the North Frontenac Little Theatre will be honouring six of its own with Lifetime Recognition.

Randomly chosen from over two dozen qualifying members, who include such talented stalwarts as Pam Giroux and family, Nina Jenkins, Claire Graves, Pam Woods and Craig Godfrey, to name a few, this year’s recipients have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the on-going success of the Little Theatre over an extended period of time.

Because of the high number of members eligible for the award, the plan is for the Recognition Evening to be repeated throughout the course of the next several years, honouring five or six members each year.

It is the hope of the organizers that the NFLT Lifetime Recognition Award’s Evening will deepen a sense of pride in the membership and encourage a new generation to continue to provide quality entertainment to our rural area.

The North Frontenac Little Theatre, in cooperation with the Limestone District School Board, has been presenting live theatre of all genres on the stage of Sharbot Lake High School since 1979.

Recipients of the NFLT Lifetime Recognition Award for the year 2013 include:

John Pariselli, Marjorie Fossey, John and Ann McDougall, Dawn Hansen and Peter Platenius.

All fans and members of the North Frontenac Little Theatre are invited to join in the celebration, which takes place on Saturday, November 16 at the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake at 7pm. Entertainment and light refreshments will be provided, with a freewill offering at the door and/or a donation to our local food bank.