NFLT Lifetime Awards evening

Oct 08, 2014

By Brian Robertson

NFLT veteran Pam Giroux walked up to the stage, picked up her award, delivered a short acceptance speech, and then burst into song: “Overture, light the lights, this is it, the night of nights!” And the ‘night of nights’ it certainly was for Pam and the four other 2014 NFLT Lifetime Recognition Award honourees - Doug and Lynda Boulter, Craig Godfrey and Karen Steele - as the North Frontenac Little Theatre’s second annual Lifetime Recognition Awards Evening was celebrated last Saturday, October 4 with a flourish of praise and appreciation.

The NFLT Hall in Tichborne was resplendent in autumn decorations and a variety of paraphernalia honouring the recipients. Fred Langton, a next door neighbour who gave extensively of his time and resources to ensure that essential services were all in place for the big evening, had a chance to tour the finished product with his wife Cindy, and both were in awe of the transformation to a formal banquet hall that had taken place.

Emcee Brian Robertson’s opening monologue included the sharing of a dream he had had in which The Frontenac News editor Jeff Green and reporter Julie Druker were both moonlighting as gossip columnists for the National Enquirer, submitting articles to the mother company in LA. about the humourous activities of our NFLT celebrities.

Each award presentation was prefaced by an informative and entertaining video montage produced by Wendy Parliament, NFLT videographer and photographer. The short films included excerpts from interviews conducted in the summer by Brian Robertson with still shots and videoclips, (often hilarious), from show footage, highlighting the recipients’ stories of their history with the Little Theatre.

The honourees spoke with the fondest, (and at times with the most sorrowful), of memories of their individual journeys with NFLT. Doug Boulter, (actor and director), and Lynda Boulter, (actor and costume mistress), recalled the tragedy of the passing of actor and teaching colleague Maurice Lowery during the production of ‘Oklahoma’ in 1987.

Pam Giroux, (wearer of all hats including actor and set painter), was recognized not only for her involvement in over 30 NFLT productions throughout the years, but also for the fact that her four children and husband Marcel eventually followed her into the arena making a considerable mark on the theatre company’s legacy.

Craig Godfrey, (actor, house manager, producer), spoke of his longstanding involvement with the troupe, (dating back to 1980), quipping that if you were male you automatically got the part, referring to the fact that there seems to be a perennial shortage of male actors available for productions.

Karen Steele, (actress, director and a former president of NFLT), spoke of how the Little Theatre was such a wonderful diversion for both her and her family, giving them an enjoyable break from the routine of daily life.

If there was one overriding message from all honourees, it was that the North Frontenac Little Theatre is a place where you make lifelong friends, form family-styled ties, and build community with fellow actors and audience members alike.

Congratulations go out to each of this year’s Lifetime Recognition recipients and we look forward to many more entertaining productions from our very own community theatre, NFLT. Check the NFLT website for links to the Recognition Evening video presentations.