Theatre camp performs original musical at RFCS annual barbecue

Aug 23, 2017

For the first time ever, and as a Canada 150 project, North Frontenac Little Theatre held a theatre camp this summer. All they really needed was a place to perform.
“Louise (Moody) said ‘why not piggyback onto our barbecue’ and we said ‘sure,’” said artistic director Brian Robertson, who organized the camp with help from Andrea Dickenson.
Thirteen students participated in two weeks of three-hour afternoons as part of the theatre camp, Robertson said.
And of course, once you’ve done all that rehearsing, you want a place to perform.

“So, I ‘borrowed’ a number of different stories floating around and localized them,” Robertson said.
The result was Way Back in Oso Township (& Kennebec), which ostensibly tells a tale of pioneer life in the area. (The scenes featuring the Oso-Kennebec Township Committee for Proper Action and Civilization, while quite entertaining, had an eerily familiar ring to them.)

And the kids performing certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“That’s what it’s all about,” said Robertson, who provided the musical accompaniment on guitar. “A lot of kids love hamming it up.”
Robertson does too and he’s hoping they can continue on with future theatre camps.
“I was completely delighted with the community support and the support of RFCs and this event,” he said. “I was proud that NFLT was able to participate and we have the Tichborne Hall which proved an excellent venue for the camp.
“I would like to see the partnerships and the camp continue.” And of course Robertson is quite willing to be a big part of it.

“I’ve dedicated my life to teaching children and the best part of that has been plays,” he said. “I love doing what I do and the best part is seeing the shy, nervous ones coming out of their shells.”