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)