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.