By Mike Renzella | The Haldimand Press

August 29, 2024

PORT DOVER—It’s been a whirlwind season at Port Dover’s Lighthouse Theatre, with audiences enjoying an impressive lineup of comedy, drama, and musical theatre, all leading up to the season-ending world premiere of famed playwright Norm Foster’s latest creation, ‘Lakefront.’

Helmed by long-time performer but first-time director Jeffrey Wetsch (who will be familiar to Lighthouse regulars for his performances in recent shows ‘Sugar Road’ and ‘A Pack of Thieves’), the play stars Melodee Finlay and Ralph Small as Christina and Robert, a pair of downtrodden seniors who meet at a wedding and through the haze of wine decide to spend a wild weekend together at a cabin in the woods, to see if they can find a spark of the old romance both have been missing.

Joining them is Lighthouse Artistic Director (AD) Derek Ritschel as Duane, the hapless caretaker of the cabin. The show marks the finale of Ritschel’s term as AD, with him stepping into a new role, Director in Residence, as new AD Jane Spence takes over in his stead.

The show is a fantastic spotlight for Ritschel, who gives a showstopping comedic performance, cracking the audience up nearly every time he appears on stage. His Duane is a comedic creation for the ages, equal parts oblivious and earnest. 

Finlay and Small make for a lovable pair with a realistic chemistry. You believe that these two people might find themselves in just such a situation, and their honesty in addressing the awkwardness of their predicament head-on is refreshing and delightful to watch unfold. Both have arrived at the cabin for their own reasons; some that line up, and some that don’t. Witnessing the pair navigate the tricky road toward their inevitable rendezvous is just straight up fun.

Wetsch creates a great aesthetic, with the rustic look of the cabin just right, and the cool blue lights illuminating the exterior of the set setting a perfect mood for the unfolding story. The show is staged lively, with the three characters constantly moving around the stage, exiting and entering at the most inopportune moments for maximum comedic impact.

Beyond the show’s impeccable comic timing, the relationship of the two main characters unfolds in a gentle and not overly dramatized fashion. Don’t expect sweeping dramatic gestures here, but sometimes a warm cup of tea means more than all that – and this show is very much that warm cup of tea that all theatregoers crave, especially as we see the horizon starting to set on another summer and the promise of cooler weather ahead.

Foster’s latest script brings all the trademarks his fans have come to know and love. Quick dialogue and mile-a-minute jokes unfolding in a rural setting? Check. Foster’s shows play in theatres across Canada each year for good reason. They promise a warm, easy-going experience full of authentic laughs and heart. 

‘Lakefront’ is yet another fine addition to his library and will surely delight any and all who take the trip out to catch a showing. 

Following the curtain call at the show’s premiere last Thursday, Ritschel was given an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience for his 14 years in the AD’s seat. 

Ritschel has been heralded for helping to save both the Lighthouse and Roselawn theatres and transforming Lighthouse into a cornerstone of the artistic community in southern Ontario. In those years, he produced 17 world premieres, with ‘Lakefront’ marking his final.

The show plays in Port Dover until September 7 before heading out to Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre from September 11-22. For showtimes and to purchase tickets, visit lighthousetheatre.com or call 1-888-779-7703.

That’s not all from the Lighthouse team, however, as they will present their season-topping musical performance ‘Memphis to Motown’ from September 10-28, bringing the music of legendary artists including Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and more to the stage. Then, this holiday season they will raise the curtain on their second annual holiday pantomime, with this year’s performance having fun with the children’s classic ‘Cinderella’.

After studying journalism at Humber College, Mike Renzella desired to write professionally but found himself working in technical fields for many years. Beginning in 2019 as a freelancer, he joined the team full-time later that year. Since then, Mike has won several awards for his articles thanks to his commitment to presenting an unbiased, honest look at the important news and events shaping our community.

By Sheila Phibbs | The Haldimand Press

August 15, 2024

SIMCOE — The classic tale of Pinocchio comes to life in Port Dover as this year’s production from the Lighthouse Theatre Young Company hits the stage August 14-17, 2024. Described as “the enchanting wooden puppet with dreams as big as his heart,” audiences will follow Pinocchio in “a tale filled with joy, courage, and the magic of becoming a real boy!”

Since 1995, the Lighthouse Theatre Young Company has provided participants between the ages of 11 to 17 the opportunity to learn about the acting profession from auditioning to rehearsing to performaning. The four-week program includes team-building exercises and introductory theatre training.

This year’s participants include Kyle Yule, age 14 of Jarvis, Jack Priestman, age 17 of Cayuga, Kiana Littlemore, age 16 of Simcoe, and Oliver Tilson, age 16 of Delhi. Upon meeting this quartet, enthusiasm for the program is soon felt and their camaraderie is evidenced by quick banter, joking, and the occasional friendly jab.

Kyle, who plays Pinocchio, was the subject of a joke shared by the rest of the cast. Oliver explains, “An inside joke with the entire cast is that (Kyle) was told he was the understudy.” Oliver then pokes fun at himself as he shares that, along with playing Geppetto, he is also a henchman named Stench. “It really stinks,” he laughs. 

Kyle continues the sparring saying, “Both your roles really suit you.” 

This is actually the third year in a row with a Yule in the title role, as his brother previously played Peter Pan and Robin Hood. It was his brother’s influence that led Kyle to join the Young Company two years ago. Kyle says, “He would come home and tell stories about the games they played and the fun they had.”

Jack plays the coachman and was in the Peter Pan and Robin Hood productions. His mom learned about the program and encouraged him to join. He recalls thinking, “I like movies so I might like acting.” Pinocchio will be Jack’s final play with the program, as he has reached the top age of eligibility.

Kiana had experience in drama through school and community theatre before she joined two years ago. She says, “Friends were in the company and said it was a really good experience.” 

She likes the opportunity to do theatre in the summer. Her role in Pinocchio – Lucky the Duck – is unique because it is a new character for this adaptation.

When Oliver heard about the Young Company from a former director who helped with set design on Peter Pan, his interest was piqued. “It fills up the summer and seemed like fun,” he shares. “I’ve had a blast ever since.”

Guiding the four actors and the rest of the 15 member cast is director Marcus Lundgren, who has been with the Lighthouse Theatre Young Company program for more than 20 years. He says, “They keep me young. Every day I come in here, it doesn’t feel like work.”  

The cast began working on Pinocchio at the Simcoe Little Theatre (SLT) on July 22. Lundgren says, “It’s a lot of work for a short time but it’s great.” 

On August 12 they moved to the Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover for what Lundgren calls “the full immersion into live theatre.” 

Two full rehearsal days took place before the show opened on August 14. Lundgren admits those are “two very intense days.” The four-day run has eight performances including a “relaxed performance” on Thursday with the lights up, spacious seating, and other accommodations to make the show accessible and inclusive. 

The end result is genuine entertainment. Lundgren says, “We try to make it appeal to everybody…. There’s some pop culture references and updates. It’s always going to be fun.… This is definitely a family show that everyone can enjoy.”

Through the Young Company cast members develop valuable skills while gaining confidence. Kiana shares, “I’ve gotten better at working with people I don’t know and collaborating…. I can be a better speaker now.” 

Oliver adds, “It’s helped me get a thicker skin and be able to understand and communicate with the people I’m surrounded with.” 

Kyle agrees: “It definitely helped with my people skills.”

They know more about comedy now, too. Kyle says, “When you listen to the audience response, you learn what’s funny.” 

Jack also appreciates the audience. He says, “It made me feel better when I was out on stage. It’s nice to see people there seeing the show and seeing me in character.”

There are takeaways for the audience as well. Kyle observes, “If you do something that needs to be covered up by a lie, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place.” 

There’s also the classic theme made familiar to many by Pinocchio’s friend Jiminy Cricket. Lundgren says, “I do think that ‘when you wish upon a star’ and ‘dreams do come true’ works through the whole show.” 

Whatever goals they have for the future, the Lighthouse Theatre Young Company enables youth to develop skills, explore new possibilities, and reach for their dreams. Lundgren concludes, “It’s amazing when alumni drop in. It’s great to see it goes beyond the four weeks of the summer.”

For tickets visit lighthousetheatre.com or call 519-583-2221. 

For more information on the Lighthouse Theatre Young Company, visit lighthousetheatre.com/young-company.

Sheila Phibbs

Now living in Jarvis, Sheila (Wodskou) Phibbs grew up on a dairy farm in Oneida with The Haldimand Press delivered weekly. She was first published in the paper in Grade 2 for her poetry, worked in The Press office in the late 90s, and joined the team again as a freelance reporter in 2015.

By Mike Renzella | The Haldimand Press

August 1, 2024

PORT DOVER — Do you ever begin to feel like a broken record, repeating the same message? That’s me, every time I see another wonderful comedy on the stage at Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover. But the truth can’t be denied – the latest offering in their summer series, The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, is yet another gem, guaranteed to make you bust a gut and leave with some deep feelings at the end.

While the subject matter of aging friends humorously traversing life’s struggles and successes is a well-worn trope on stages around the world, it’s the little details that make a show sink or swim. What sets Sweet Delilah apart is the expertly written characters, the actresses portraying them, and the chemistry and camaraderie they share together across the show’s breezy two-hour runtime.

The show is written by the three-person team of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten.

Set in four different time periods, beginning in 1991 and ending in 2023, it follows the adventures of a tight-knit group of friends who first bonded as members of their college swim team. We meet them at mid-life and stay with them through old age.

The show is directed by incoming Lighthouse Artistic Director Jane Spence, showcasing the same natural mastery of comic timing seen in her previous Lighthouse shows Halfway There, On The Air, and Where You Are.

It delivers zinger after zinger with confidence, bringing big laughs that shook the walls on opening night, with random bursts of applause aplenty following some particularly hard-hitting one-liners or monologues.

The five actresses who bring it all to life are Debra Hale as Sheree, Susan Henry as Lexie, Susan Johnston Collins as Dinah, Jane Miller as Jeri, and Andrea Risk as Vernadette.

Hale brings some strong ‘girl scout’ vibes as the friend who is always annoyingly over-prepared, while Johnston Collins gets to throw solid gold one liners while drinking tumblers full of orange juice and vodka. Henley is hysterical as the slightly aloof friend with a charming lack of self-awareness, while Miller brings a sincerity and vulnerability to her role as a former nun who shows up with a shocking surprise for her friends early in the show.

But it’s Risk as Vernadette who acts as the show’s heartbeat. Unlike her friends, Vernadette has had a more challenging go at life, and the way her friends rally around her as she ages, and starts to lose her memory, is very touching. She also gets some of the show’s biggest speeches and is more than up to the task of delivering them with gusto, earning applause more than once and earning a few tears by the show’s end.

The five have a believable connection, which only deepens as the show progresses through the years. It’s one of the better ensemble casts seen on the Lighthouse stage in a long time, and that’s really saying something.

As always, the show’s production values are top notch, with a beautifully designed cottage set, along with effective sound and lighting cues throughout. The real star of the show here is that on-stage chemistry, and the technical team at Lighthouse knows how to perfectly accent the action on stage.

Another surprise star? The show-themed blueberry sangria served at Lighthouse’s bar. Definitely worth a glass, and quite popular judging by the number of patrons sipping on one during the intermission.

The Sweet Delilah Swim Club is playing at Port Dover’s Lighthouse Festival Theatre through August 10. It will head to Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre August 14-25. For tickets and showtimes, visit lighthousetheatre.com or call 1-888-779-7703.

For tickets, visit lighthousetheatre.com or call 1-888-779-7703. 

Mike Renzella

After studying journalism at Humber College, Mike Renzella desired to write professionally but found himself working in technical fields for many years. Beginning in 2019 as a freelancer, he joined the team full-time later that year. Since then, Mike has won several awards for his articles thanks to his commitment to presenting an unbiased, honest look at the important news and events shaping our community.

By Tamara Botting | The Haldimand Press

July 11, 2024

PORT DOVER— Without having a personal connection to someone who has served in the armed forces, it can be all too easy to let pinning a poppy to your chest and attending a Remembrance Day service each November be the rote extent of honouring those who fought so we could be free. 

It’s not a malicious mentality; it’s just that because war is something many are largely unfamiliar with – as many haven’t experienced or seen the impact firsthand – we have an emotional disconnect from even the concept of war, let alone the realities of it. 

Facts and figures are part of the picture, but to truly touch hearts, stories are needed. We need to know the people behind the statistics. 

One such story is ‘Mary’s Wedding,’ written by Stephen Massicotte with Derek Ritschel now directing the show for Lighthouse Festival Theatre. 

The show boasts the talents of Daniel Reale as Charlie and Evelyn Wiebe has Mary, both in their debuts on this particular stage, but each with a number of acting credits under the belts. 

Charlie, a Canadian farmer’s son, and Mary, whose family recently emigrated to Canada from England, find an immediate attraction to each other and soon discover shared interests, including horseback riding and poetry. 

The two actors – the only performers on stage throughout the entire production – are charming and engaging, expertly drawing the audience in. We thrill, we rejoice, we fear, we grieve alongside them as their tender love story is soon overshadowed by the horrors of the First World War. 

The story, the audience is told in the opening scene, begins at the end and ends at the beginning. Besides a non-linear timeline, the story is also told with Mary sharing her dreams of Charlie. 

Memories of her time with him before he shipped out blend with his experiences on the front lines. But rather than her being an omniscient observer with the latter, she walks alongside her beloved in the role of his commanding officer, Gordon Flowerdew. 

Flowerdew (1885-1918) was a real soldier, who emigrated to Canada from England in 1903, but 11 years later, returned to Europe and was part of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) calvary unit. He led a calvary charge against a fortified German position in the Battle of Moreuil Wood, which proved to be critical to the Allies’ defensive efforts. He was severely injured during the charge and died the next day. 

His experiences are interwoven into the play, giving an authentic grounding to the story as it unfolds. 

Very often, stories about war will glory in the heroism, the honour, the valour of it – Charlie himself is caught up in the romantic notions of war before the realities of it come crashing in on him. 

‘Mary’s Wedding’ is unflinching when bringing to a sharp focus the horrors of war – the mud, the blood, the death, and the terror.

But as much as this play is about war, it’s also not.  

It’s about Charlie and Mary; the sweetness of young love and the funny, awkward, fluttery moments of trying to figure out how you feel about this person, and whether they feel the same about you. It’s tender moments and stolen glances, feeling so full of joy that you might burst.  

And that’s the strength of the play. The impacts of war matters because Charlie and Mary matter. 

To experience this heartfelt story for yourselves, see ‘Mary’s Wedding’ in Port Dover until July 20, or in Port Colborne from July 24 to August 4. 

For tickets, visit lighthousetheatre.com or call 1-888-779-7703. 

By Mike Renzella | The Haldimand Press

June 27, 2024

PORT DOVER—While Lighthouse’s second show of the season, Murder at Ackerton Manor, continues its run in Port Dover as its first show, Doris and Ivy in the Home, wraps up its run in Port Colborne, the theatre’s behind-the-scenes creative team is already busy preparing for this season’s third show, the epic World War I drama Mary’s Wedding.

Lighthouse’s Artistic Director Derek Ritschel is pulling double duty as the show’s director, bringing forward the company’s first and only dramatic entry of the 2024 season.

“I was lucky enough to be an actor in its first go-around through the Canadian theatres back in 2004. I fell in love with the play then,” said Ritschel of Mary’s Wedding.

“It’s the kind of storytelling I think is beautiful.”

While Ritschel played one of the show’s two lead characters back in the day, he doesn’t recall a lot from the experience, instead noting, “I’m surprised at how much of this play I’m discovering rather than remembering. It’s more like it’s a new play to me than something I’ve done and have a background in.”

This iteration of the show stars Daniel Reale as Charlie and Evelyn Wiebe as Mary.

“I think the audience will leave thinking about a few things,” said Reale. “The absolutely stunning poetry and writing in the piece, the impacts of the First World War, the social constructs of the early 20th century – but mostly I hope they leave thinking about all those incredible sensations that come with first love…. I love this show for giving me the opportunity to live in that world.”

Wiebe added of her character, “She feels everything so deeply and that’s just the most satisfying thing as an actor. To hear a woman in the 1900s being bold. A lot of folks tend to dismiss a woman falling in love as ‘typical,’ or trope-like. Mary is so much more than that. She’s just a beast of a woman. It’s just the most fun to play.”

Ritschel said the heart of the story amounts to a collision of innocent young love and world-changing devastation.

“Young love can feel like it’s the biggest thing on the planet. It’s the most moving, it’s the biggest thing you’re going to experience in your life. In this place, it is interrupted by a world war,” he explained. “It has all these sweeping themes of love, but also the absolute devastation and horror of war as a major character. It’s not even a backdrop in this show, that’s kind of what I dig about it. It is such a prevalent presence in their lives.”

The show is an outlier in Lighthouse’s season, which is typically focused on bringing big laughs to attendees.

“Once every two or three years Lighthouse will do a play that is more dramatic than it is comedic,” said Ritschel. “The comedy is great, and that’s what the majority of people want and we’re happy to deliver it because people love it, but every now and then we throw one of these in there so people can get a different flavour, a little taste of something different.”

The audience will be taken on a journey through Mary’s memories, with events unfolding both before and after the war over the course of the time-hopping show.

“It’s one of those plays that pushes the capabilities of Lighthouse. It really utilizes the light and sound and set design, and the creativity of staging a play,” said Ritschel. “That’s what I love.”

Matching the show’s sweeping themes of love and loss, Lighthouse’s technical team has been hard at work utilizing every resource at their availability to ensure the show is one to remember.

“A play like Mary’s Wedding has a lot of ambiance. It’s fun for those of us at the theatre to play with what she’s technically capable of,” said Ritschel.

The play will run at Lighthouse’s Port Dover theatre from July 3-20 and at Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre from July 24-August 4.

For more information on the show, and to purchase tickets, visit lighthousetheatre.com/event/marys-wedding or call the box office at 1-888-779-7703.

After studying journalism at Humber College, Mike Renzella desired to write professionally but found himself working in technical fields for many years. Beginning in 2019 as a freelancer, he joined the team full-time later that year. Since then, Mike has won several awards for his articles thanks to his commitment to presenting an unbiased, honest look at the important news and events shaping our community.