Anglo humour in the Apocalyse
by Matt Radz, Theate Critic
The Montreal Gazette, October 2005
A funny thing happened to a cartoonist, a column writer and a pair of political
troubadours on their way to the Centaur. Moonlighting from their day jobs at The Gazette
Terry (Aislan) Mosher and Josh (I only work Saturdays) Freed left their lakeside dachas
just long enough to hook up with cottage-row neighbours (George) Bowser & (Ricky) Blue
to bond into an all-male anglo-humour collective.
Calling their one-liner, three chrod posse "Four Anglos of the Apocalye", they rode into
Knowlton and to stage glory, selling out all summer (in repertory) at Theatre Lac Brome.
They're now selling out at Centaur in a demonstration that theirs was not just a fair-weather affair...
But it's the best political cabaret we've seen around here ... Four Anglos convulses its captive
audience wirh a synergic collaboration that makes everyone seem funnier and more charming
than when they're working alone ...
There's no writing credit, but Theatre Lac Brome's Nicholas K. Pynes, who produced and directed
a hit show, adroitly manipulates the spotlight the strike an effective balance between the
individual contributions.
Battle of the sex
by Gaetan L. Charlebois, Special to the Gazette
The Montreal Gazette, July 2005
Sexy Laundry is just what I'm talking about when I tell people that Village Theatre in
Hudson might surprise them. Written by Michele Riml, it discusses a subject near and dear
to me: couplehood at a certain age...
This is a cunning, punchy little play, directed by Heather Markgraf and acted by two
marrieds who need the tiniest push to look further into the dark corners of a couple's
soul and portray it for us. Hard as it might be on the actors, the evening for the audience
turned truly thrilling, and our laughter at the end was real: laughter of relief.
Note to readers:Theatre Lac Brome's production of "Sexy Laundry" opened in Hudson
before coming to Knowlton.
A marriage made in country heaven
by Matt Radz, Theatre Critic
The Montreal Gazette, August 2005
Laura Teasdale and Ralph Steiner make beautiful music together in "Honky Tonk Blue: The Night Patsy Met Hank".
That's Hank as in Williams and Patsy as in Cline, two venerable icons of American music
in all its hurtin', cheatin'-heart glory...
Smartly written by Teasdale, the musical imagines a brief encounter that never took place
but obviously should have.... Teasdale is a more than capable singer with torch power to spare
while Steiner, who also plays guitar, channels Hank with chilling authenticity...
Teasdale and Steiner had the well tanned and relaxed capacity audience that turned out on a
rainy Wednesday night in their back pocket with their first duet, a rocking "I Saw the Light
(No more darkness, no more night)...
Teasdale has written
a fascinating story to raise Honky Tonk Blue well above the level of a tribute-band show.
The Tall Girl: a firm grasp
by Matt Radz, Theatre Critic
The Montreal Gazette, August 2005
If you're willing to drive an hour or so for the sake of a compelling theatre experience,
a road trip tp this well-manicured little town nestled along a tiny lake could be in your future.
"The Tall Girl", a bittersweet glimpse back into the 1940s and deep into the human heart, is just
one of the first-rate stage works that have made Theatre Lac Brome's repertory season a
critical and box-office success this summer.
Well written, crisply directed by Greg Tuck and effectively performed by a cast of three, the
premiere production of George Rideout's memory play attracted the best sort of audience to its
performance last week - a full house crowd that engaged the drama with a palpable attention...
20th Anniversary Celebrated
by Wendy Denman
The Sherbrooke Record, June 2005
Booming out the chorus of "She was Poor but She was Honest" the audience at Arts Knowlton last Saturday night was as much a part of the performance on stage as was a beaming Alex Paterson directing it all. The occasion was the opening party of Theatre Lac Brome's professional season and a landmark for the group celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. "Can you believe it? I can't believe it has been twenty years," said founding artistic director Emma Stevens. "It started even before we moved into the new theatre here, it started with a group of children at the United Church and it has never stopped." The full house began celebrating in the early evening under a tent, sipping wine and nibbling on jumbo shrimp, and consuming a great deal of mineral water to stave off the oppressive, misty heat. Present were theatre patrons, members of the board past and present, actors both amateur and professional, friends and founders. Dishing up the appetizers and drinks were many familiar faces from Knowlton Players. Moving into the theatre as the evening progessed, the gathering enjoyed a slide show retrospective and a number of performances and presentations overseen by artistic and general director Nicholas K. Pynes in his persona as laid-back piano-playing man. "We are very indebted to our founders and past presidents who have brought the theatre to where it is today," said current president Susan Luke Hill. She presented a painting of Arts Knowlton by Rhonda Price to outgoing president Signy Stephenson. "...Who brought us through the busy transition period and worked wonders with publicity." Present and enjoying it all were founders Gerry Wood, Brian Timmins and Diana Severs, wife of founder Derek Severs. Alex Paterson, founding chairman and forever the performer, joined Emma Stevens on stage for a bit of fractured Shakespeare before leading the audience in song. Stevens, whose artistic vision instigated the whole thing, demonstrated her comedic nature with the delightful take-off on directing - Giving Notes by Victoria Wood. The slide show again underlined the high caliber of theatre and musicals seen at Theatre Lac Brome over the years as did the several vignettes on stage Saturday evening. The audience stood cheering and clapping over and over as Wayne Doba and Andrea Conway danced away the years as Dik & Mitzi, Helen King sang Cole Porter's "What Shall I do?" and Jane Wheeler and Mary Harvey gave an English Lesson. Showing some of the treats instore this year, Laura Teasdale, who has graced the stage with her unique presence many times over the years, joined Ralph Steiner with a tonque in cheek, and very funny take on the McCondriacs. The two star in the second show of this season - Honky Tonk Blue: The Night Patsy Met Hank - an original musical written by Teasdale. The show ended with a stunning performance of Cabaret by Jane Wheeler, after which the audience, very fittingly, retired back to the tent for champagne and sweets.
Social Notes
by Veronica Redgrave
The Gazette, Montreal August 2003
Elegant crowd flocks to country garden for fundraiser in support of Theatre Lac Brome .... Despite a threathening sky.... they came in droves. The Shish Boom Bash was held at the beautiful 250-acre estate of Bob and Mona Bandeen... Noted arriving were Sheila and Paul Martin, Pattie and John Cleghorn, Sue and Charles Cavell, Joan and Alex Paterson, Sue and Jawaid Khan and Stratton Stevens. Admiring the gardens were Helgi and Ian Soutar, Mary and Peter White, Jeanne and David Marler, Diana and Brian Timmins, Scott Yetman, Ginette Millaire, Francine and Richard Wisdom ... The party was a great success with guests staying until the rain came at 10 p.m. The event raised $39,000 which will support the theatre's future productions.
TLB masterful with classic Shaw piece
By Diahann Saddler
Brome County News,July 23, 2003
The classic Shaw piece Mrs. Warren's Profession was scandalous when first penned, and a Theatre Lac Brome stages it as rge second production of their summer repertory season, it is still quite daring.... Mary Harvey leads an excellent cast as Kitty Warren... Her Kitty is lively, vulgar, appealing and appalling. Helen King plays Vivie .... she is equally excellent in this role. Glenn Roy is utterly convincing as the repulsive Crofts... Darren Jackson is glorious as young Frank ... Greg Kramer directs with his usual flair for character development and unerring sense of timing. Mrs. Warren's Profession is riveting from start to finish, offering the famous Shavian wit and acerbic vocabulary.
Scatter the Ashes is fun for music lovers
By Diahann Saddler
Brome County News, August 7, 2003
The last offering of the professional summer season has opened at Theatre Lac Brome. Scatter the Ashes is a homespun, homebrewed affair, an intimate evening for lovers of traditional music. Written by stars Marc Desmoreaux and Trish Barclay, Scatter the Ashes mixes fact and fiction witrh the story of two lovers separated by the great Depression, geography and by life. The lovers are made up. The events, however, are based on real life, on research into the formative years in Canada's cultural history. ... for the audience wanting a toe-tapping good time, wrapped in homey accents and unpretentious patter, this is definietly the ticket.
Les rêves d’autonomie du Théâtre Lac Brome
Par Isabel Authier
La Voix de l’Est, mercredi 27 février 2002
Des théâtres anglophones comme celui de Lac Brome, il n’en existe plus beaucoup. À peine quatre ou cinq au Québec. Loin de se plier au destin, qui la condamnerait sans doute à un inéluctable déclin, l’institution théâtrale se débat comme un diable dans l’eau bénite pour guarantir son avenir. Mieux que cela, on sent en son enceinte une vitalité remarquable. “C’est une tradition à Knowlton… et une invitation à goûter la différence”, note le directeur généraldu théâtre, Nicholas Pynes.
Pour poursuivre sa mission, le bâtiment attenant au légendaire Knowlton Pub aura besoin de nombreuses modifications au cours des prochaines années. Mais les responsables du théâtre commenceront d’abord par en faire l’acquisition. De là l’importante campagne de financement lancée il y a deux mois et dont l’objectif est fixé à 350 000 $.
“Les changements se feront en deux étapes. La première vise l’achat d’un acre de terrain et du bâtiment qui, jusqu’à maintenant, a toujours été loué. Il faudra notamment aménager un nouveau stationnement et changer l’emplacement de l’entrée principale”, explique la vice-présidente du Théâtre Lac Brome, Signy Stephenson.
Pour ce premier sprint, les responsables ont établi un échéancier serré. Ils devront avoir amassé les 350 000 $ pour le 1er septembre prochain. Et la sollicitation va bon train. L’envoi des lettres personalisées à travers le pays a permis de récolter le tiers du montant. D’autres événements seront également tenus au cours des prochains mois, dont un concert bénéfice à l’Université McGill et une vente aux enchères dans le cadre du Mid-Summer Gala annuel du théâtre.
“Ensuite, il nous faudra 650 000 $ de plus pour aménager des toilettes, un vrai hall d’entrée et faire passer la capacité du théâtre de 135 à 200 places”, ajoute Mme Stephenson, en précisant que l’endroit deviendra alors Arts Knowlton.
Pour cette seconde collecte de fonds, l’organisme tentera tourfois d’obtenir de l’aide gouvernementale et le support de certaines fondations vouées au développement de la culture.
Pour tous les goûts
Construit en 1988, le Théâtre Lac Brome reçoit environ 10 000 visiteurs par année, dont 7 000 durant la saison estivale. Des activités culturelles, dont certaines en français, s’y tiennent à l’année longue, mais l’affluence est notable surtout en été, alors qu’on présente, en alternance, quatre pièces jouées par des comédiens professionnels.
“Nous recevrons beaucoup de touristes et environ 20% de notre clientèle est francophone”, constate M. Pynes.
Pour sa programmation d’été 2002, qui prendra l’affiche le 22 juin prochain, le Théâtre Lac Brome offrira quatres pièces de styles variés: la comédie familiale Old King Cole, le suspens Evelyn Strange, la comédie romantique Village Wooing et une revue musicale country intitulée Hank Williams: He Show He Never Gave.
Les personnes intéressées à contribuer à la campagne ou à donner un coup de main en tant que bénévole peuvent composer le 450-242-1395.
