Summer/Fall 2015

Page 22

Farewell to Thespian and English Teacher Paul Mason Lindsay, Arbor Theatre in Peterborough, and City Stage in Peterborough. After graduating with an Honours BA in English, he also spent a year as the artistic director of Whispers Dinner Theatre. Lakefield College School entered Paul’s life in 1983 when Andy Harris offered him the chance to teach an English course. By 1985, Paul was teaching full time and he earned his BEd at Queen’s University while on sabbatical in 1994. Today, we know Paul as one of the most gifted directors at Lakefield College School. If we’re alumni, we either participated in his plays or were lucky enough to watch them. If we’re parents of children who loved the stage, we watched, spellbound, as Paul turned The Voice. The first time I heard The Voice was on the

our self-conscious teens into the Prince of Denmark

phone in the spring of 1998. I was doing research for a

or Jean Valjean or Countess Olivia. Paul directed 18

fiction book, and I wanted to talk to an English teacher

full-length productions during his 32 years at LCS, and

at a prestigious prep school. That was the background

he put every ounce of his bountiful enthusiasm into

of my main character, and I felt I had to know what a

helping his young actors perform. Participating in a Paul

real prep school English teacher was like. So I called

Mason play was an honour. For many young thespian-

Lakefield College School and asked to speak to one.

wannabes, it was as close to professional acting as they

Carol Florence—probably the greatest ambassador LCS

would come.

has ever had—was delighted with my request and said, “You must speak to Paul Mason! He’s not only an English

But as devoted as Paul was to theatre, he was equally

teacher—he’s a writer. He’d love to talk to you.”

passionate about social justice—and the power of words. As well as Drama and English, he taught Politics

She promptly connected me to his voicemail and I

and History. He coached the LCS debating team for nine

almost hung up. I was convinced Sir Alec Guinness

years and took the Canadian public-speaking team to

was asking me to leave a detailed message. I mumbled

the World Championships in 1990, where they finished

something incoherent and knew I would never hear

first. He’s written four plays—Servant of Light, The

from him.

Discipline Committee, Circles of Grace and Sister Camille’s

But I did. And thus began a friendship with one of the most intriguing people I’ve ever known.

Kaleidoscopic Cabaret (which won an international playwriting competition) and authored three published novels—Battered Soles, The Red Dress and The Night

Paul Nicholas Mason was born in London, England in

Drummer. Throughout all his work he sends one

1958, but his family soon moved to politically volatile

constant message: strive, always, to be our better selves.

Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In 1966, when Rhodesia’s prime minister Ian Smith refused to allow multi-racial democracy, Paul’s father moved the family to Canada, eventually settling in Kingston, Ontario, where Paul grew up. Paul’s fascination with the theatre found expression when he was a student at Trent University. During the summers he acted for Kawartha Summer Theatre in

14  |  Grove News Summer/Fall 2015

Paul Mason is the beloved former teacher of hundreds of LCS alumni. He is a father and a grandfather, and he will definitely not be retiring in his retirement. For those lucky enough to know him, he will always be that rare soul who marches to his own drum—and is gracious enough to take us with him. STEPHANIE EDWARDS (LCS ALUMNA PARENT)


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Summer/Fall 2015 by Lakefield College School - Issuu