Like most people who spend 10 months of the year at school, local teacher Kate Egan-Veinotte has always looked forward to her summer vacation. While students and colleagues rush to the beach, however, Kate prefers to head to the rehearsal hall. For over 20 years, audiences have seen her perform in summer comedy at Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg – a place she considers a second home.
So, when The Upper Canada Playhouse initiated their Help The Playhouse Get On With The Show campaign, to help them navigate the COVID crisis, Kate and her husband, Scott, thought it was time to get creative. What better way to help raise funds for a favourite local theatre company than to stage a play? With this in mind, the pair dusted off their arts education and production company, “acting like kids”.
Theatre is what brought the couple together in the first place, when Scott worked as a performer and booking agent for the agency that represented Kate in Ottawa. Primarily a musician, he has also been known to invite her on stage to sing with him from time to time. While the couple are most proud of some past productions, namely their three children who form the band, Sons of Gord, this show found the recent empty-nesters acting on stage together for the very first time.
Norm Foster’s seasonal one-act comedy, The Christmas Tree, seemed the ideal project. Rich with the humour and charm that audiences have come to expect from Canada’s favourite playwright, the show included performances by local folk duo Lauren Casselman and Tom Henbest. Appearing as “Lost at the Junction”, these two talented singers/multi-instrumentalists performed original songs and put their unique spin on some Christmas standards.
Under the watchful eye of Playhouse Artistic Director, Donnie Bowes, and with Stonecrop Acres Winery and Vineyard offering up the perfect venue, the Veinottes’ acting like kids production company has raised over $4000 to help the Playhouse get on with the show.
acting like kids would like to thank:
Donnie Bowes, Marc Gervais and Norene Hyatt-Gervais at Stonecrop Acres Winery and Vineyard, Janeen Wagemans, Peter Gilroy at Ottawa Special Events, Margi and Sam Laurin, Sean Free at Upper Canada Playhouse, Tom Henbest and Lauren Casselman (Lost at the Junction).
Watch for upcoming performances by Kate Egan-Veinotte at the Upper Canada Playhouse, and future productions by acting like kids, including a possible re-mount of Norm Foster’s The Christmas Tree next December!
