NFLT achievement awards

Jeff Green | Sep 28, 2016

The North Frontenac Little Theatre held its annual awards ceremony last Sunday, Sept. 25 at the former Tichborne church that it purchased and fixed up as a rehearsal and storage space several years ago.

This year actors Martina Field and John Stephen were honoured in the performer category, and in the community category, long-time supporters Jocelyn and Nick Whalen from Sharbot Lake Pharmasave were also celebrated.

The hall was decked out with red carpets, and there was a table laden full of treats and refreshments in the center. The hall was full when NFLT president and event emcee, Brian Robertson, jumped onto the altar/stage at the back of the hall and called everyone to attention. Channeling Steve Martin, Robertson proceeded to deliver a monologue, complete with fake texts from celebrities, and apologies from long-time NFLT members John and Anne McDougall, who according to Robertston were busy at home working on a disco version of Fiddler on the Roof.

Finally it came time to announce the first honoree, Martina Field. As she jumped up to go up and accept her award, Robertson put his hand up. “Not yet,” he said, forcing her to return to her seat as he talked about their experiences on stage together as a married couple on two occasions, something that he said the tabloids had a field day with.

Field has performed in over a dozen productions, including as Mrs. Webb in “Our Town” and Titania in “A Midsummer Night's Dream”, a production she mentioned in particular because it was the first ever Shakespeare production for the company and its director, Inie Platenius, died of breast cancer before the play went up.

“We were committed to following the directions she gave us in order to make the production a tribute to her. It meant a lot to all of us. She also asked me to design the sets for it, with the help of Peter [Inie's husband], which was a great experience.”

Brian Robertson would not let Field leave the front until she delivered a cackle from the Wicked Witch of the West. She said that was a role she had wanted to play since she was a child as the Wicked Witch has always been an idol of hers. She called her a “positive role model.”

John Stephen first came to the Little Theatre as the father (and chauffeur) for his daughter, Shiloh, who was in a production. He took on a small role, and has been in a dozen productions since then.

He was given more and more prominent roles in a series of productions that were directed by Doug Mcintyre, including Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Drinking Alone, and Noises Off.

“He saw something in me as an actor that I never saw,” Stephen said in his trademark self-deprecating manner.

He also played the wizard in The Wizard of Oz, a policeman in Guys and Dolls, and was recently in The Miracle Worker.

He said that he has been put into difficult positions on stage by some of his directors, including McIntyre, who decided to stage Beyond Reasonable Doubt in the center of the auditorium at the old Sharbot Lake High School instead of on stage.

“Whenever I would lose a line on stage I could look to the side for prompting, but this time the audience was surrounding me. But since I was playing a lawyer I could just say 'please give me a minute to consult, your honour', and go back to consult with my client, who fortunately had the script in front of them on the table. The audience never knew, or at least never told me they knew.”

Jocelyn and Nick Whalen are the first recipients of the Community Award. They have supported the Little Theatre ever since they opened the Sharbot Lake Pharmacy 25 years ago.

“They have put posters up in the store and sold tickets and collected money for us for 50 productions over the years. And I know we are not alone; they support other community activities all the time,”said Robertson.

Speaking for the pair, Nick Whalen said, “It is an honor to be recognised. I have always enjoyed the productions. The Little Theatre is a great asset to the community.”

The Whalens received a standing ovation.