NFLT latest offerings turn temporary homelessness into an opportunity By Craig Bakay Reporter
Gazette News — It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and the same could be said for the North Frontenac Little Theatre’s most recent offerings, My Narrator and The Death of Me, featured in a dinner theatre format at The Crossing Pub and two shows at Oso Hall last week in Sharbot Lake. You see, the NFLT had become quite used to staging their productions at Sharbot Lake High School. But with the demolition of the school in favour of the new Granite Ridge Education Centre, there was no place to rehearse and build sets, do lighting tests, etc. (There is a spot for NFLT in the new building but it just couldn’t be ready in time for this production.) So for director Brian Robertson, this production was something of a challenge on a number of levels. “Yes, we were ‘uprooted,’” he said. “And that was very much a factor in what we could stage this time around. “We don’t have the funds to rent Oso Hall for the two-month rehearsal
period — just this week we’re experiencing the stage and we sort of had to just whip up a set.” What this meant was that they were very limited in their choice of material. “We decided to go with two oneact plays by Norm Foster, who is kind of Canada’s Neil Simon,” Robertson said. “Foster’s stuff features very little action — it thrives on dialogue. “It’s a bit of a challenge, but doable.” Perhaps the challenge for Robertson himself was more than for much of the rest of the cast and production team. “My background really is in children’s and classic theatre and this is a totally different slant,” he said. “With larger productions (such as Tom Sawyer that Robertson also directed), you have sets, costuming, and often music that amplifies and embellishes the story, leading to action on stage. “With these plays, everything depends on the presentation and power of the words.” But, luckily, he said, Foster excels at this.
“Foster approaches serious scenarios tempered with lightness and humour,” he said. “Everyone can relate to something in his plays, which offer insight into everyday life. “People can see themselves and the ins and outs of life in them.” This production also allowed NFLT to offer something it really
hasn’t been able to do as much of as they’d like — dinner theatre. “The Sharbot Lake population has always seemed to enjoy the dinner theatre when we’ve been able to offer it,” he said. “When we started thinking about options, we thought maybe we should try The Crossing and when we approached Frank and
Sandra, they were very helpful and enthusiastic. “They had the venue and we came up with the production.” My Narrator starred Kathy Bateman, Noel Bateman and Andrea Dickinson. The Death of Me starred Craig Godfrey, Barb Matson, Ellie Steele and John Pariselli.
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Kathy Bateman, Noel Bateman and Andrea Dickinson rehearse a scene from My Narrator, one of two one-act plays by Norm Foster the North Frontenac Little Theatre staged last week. Photo/Craig Bakay
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