Two stages, all ages
Theatre Ancaster’s Classics theatre program for performers ages 55-plus presents Generations, a multi-generational play by local playwright Lois Gordon, and Curtain Call Performing Arts Company’s teen program is putting on the lively musical Legally Blonde Jr.
Theatre, that most social of art forms, represents the human condition in all its variations. Over the next few days, two local theatre companies featuring performers at either end of the age spectrum will show that all the world’s a stage and everyone has a place to shine on it. Theatre Ancaster with its Classics program (55-plus) will close its run of historical family drama Generations, and Curtain Call Performing Arts Company with its Advanced Musical Theatre program (13-18) will continue its short run of the bright, lively musical Legally Blonde Jr.
As Ancaster’s Gord Conroy explains in his director’s note, Generations is a multi-generational family saga with a local focus: “Told through seven short plays from the 1840s to the present, our story connects the lives of a family living just outside Ancaster with what is happening in the town, the community and the world.” Generations is a new play written for Theatre Ancaster by Lois Gordon, and the fifth play she’s contributed since becoming involved in the Classics program in 2019. Gordon is a writer, editor, interior designer and arts lover.
As its promotional materials describe, “Generations takes us on a fascinating journey through some of the times and events that shaped Ancaster, through the lens of one family’s history.” Generations opens with scenes from 1842 and continues through a series of tableaus that punctuate points in the family and local community’s history: 1875, 1899, 1934, 1968, 1999 and 2025. The MacKenzie family is stated to be fictional but the stories that unfold throughout the course of the production sound as though they might have been inspired by real personal journals or archival newspaper clippings. That is testament to the playwright and to the performers, who embody the production with a lot of heart.
Theatre Ancaster established its Classics program in 2019, with the aim to “provide opportunities for people 55 and over to participate in quality theatrical productions.” There are two streams of the Classics program: play and musical. Participants in the current play program, of which Generations is the result, have paid a $100 fee (the musical program is $200) and had to audition for a place. The program runs from September to February (the musical program until January), during which participants receive individual and group theatre training and rehearsal time.
Training in the play program focuses on “character development, stage movement and the use of the voice (pitch, pace, and power techniques).” Individuals with no previous acting experience are welcome, although the theatre’s FAQ warns that “major roles will often go to people with experience.” For the plays, actors may use concealed scripts on stage; the productions also include props, costuming, lighting, sound and music.
As a result, director Conroy has led a Generations cast in which “some actors are making their stage debut, while others have lots of stage experience.” This is beautifully reflected in the playbill, which is a charming collection of short stories in itself. Conroy is a former teacher at Ancaster High School who directed musicals there with Ralf Hakenberg and Al Croxall (Theatre Ancaster’s first president and most recently a director with the Classics musical program) before they became founding members of Theatre Ancaster in 1997.
Michael Donaldson, one of the performers who plays multiple characters in the show (Edwin Smith, Narrator, Jason), is making his acting debut with Theatre Ancaster but you wouldn’t know it from his charm and natural command of the stage. It’s Bonnie Tolton’s (Grace) fourth year with Theatre Ancaster as she and Craig Cook (Narrator, Sam, James) bring lots of laughs with the zest and glee they bring to grandparents Grace and James, who have learned to live life colourfully, while they horrify their adult daughter. Cook, a retired teacher and Presbyterian minister, has a number of acting roles to his credit.
Melanie Kivell (Aunt Mabel, Narrator) and Aileen Earls (Eleanor Smith, Narrator, Bernadette) are performing for a fourth year, while it’s the second year for Karoline Fox (Patty) and Rick Pajor (William, Chuck). Cindy MacMillan (Narrator, Euphemia Tilman, makeup) is magnetic onstage and joined Theatre Ancaster in 2022. Joe Betzner (Henry, Charles Tilman, Dave) has been involved in local theatre for over four decades, while the Rev. Canon Robert Brownlie (Narrator, Frederik Hostein, Peter) is having his “first go at theatre, at 78 years old.” It was the historical aspect of the play that drew him in, he says.
The performances may vary in their skilfulness and subtlety but it’s clear that the cast are “all-in” and wholeheartedly committed to building their story. It has good energy, pacing, quite a bit of humour (including some laughs about local “rivals” Dundas and Hamilton), and even some moments of pathos. Its greatest strength is in its ability to resonate with the audience’s memories, conjuring up old memories about viewers’ own families, whether they lived in the area or not.
Applications and auditions for the upcoming Classics program season are coming up in May and June.
Meanwhile, Curtain Call Performing Arts Company is in the midst of a nearly sold-out three-night run of Legally Blonde Jr., performed by its teenaged Advanced Musical Theatre members. Curtain Call promises “a fun, upbeat, family-friendly experience from start to finish” with “tight choreography, strong vocals and vibrant character work” inspired by the beloved Broadway musical and the 2001 (my word, has it been that long?) movie starring Reese Witherspoon.
Legally Blonde opened onstage in 2007 with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. The musical and movie were based on a novel by Amanda Brown. After pre-Broadway tryouts in San Francisco, the musical moved to Broadway where it received seven Tony nominations and 10 Drama Desk nominations despite mixed reviews and disappointing ticket sales. The West End version opened in 2010 and had better luck, nominated for five Laurence Olivier Awards where it won three, including the Best New Musical award.
Legally Blonde Jr. tells the story of our fashion-obsessed heroine, Elle Woods, as she tackles “dumb blonde” stereotypes and snobby assumptions to stay true to herself. When her boyfriend dumps her before leaving for Harvard, claiming she's too superficial, Elle takes matters into her own hands. As Music Theatre International describes, Elle charms her way into Harvard Law School, “befriending classmate Emmett and spunky hairdresser Paulette along the way … she finds that books and looks aren't mutually exclusive.” It turns out, Elle Woods may have a natural flair for law that’s all her own, and all those who underestimated her are in for a surprise. Curtain Call PAC calls Legally Blonde Jr. “a fabulously fun journey of self-empowerment and expanding horizons … with humour, wit and sass!”
Over the past decade, Curtain Call founders and artistic directors Kat Baranowski and Danielle Viola have built a performing arts company that has weathered a pandemic and brought numerous, high-quality musical theatre productions to the local stage. Their goal is to “build a community,” teaching real theatre experience in an inclusive and welcoming setting. Their aim is for young performers to develop positive self-esteem along with solid performance skills. Its programs run the gamut from novice, ensemble, intermediate, advanced, and intensive musical theatre classes for children and youth. Curtain Call programs are carried out at the Binbrook Agricultural Hall while Gasworks in downtown Hamilton hosts its tech rehearsals and performances.
Last August, I reviewed Curtain Call PAC’s production of Disney’s Newsies and was very impressed with the performances, choreography, production values, and direction. The attention to detail was first rate. Seeing is believing, as I found out, and Curtain Call, like Elle Woods, should never be underestimated.
Upcoming Curtain Call PAC productions offer both the chance to be entertained and the opportunity to witness the kind of performance skills that the independent and ambitious theatre company has to offer for young people aged 4 to young adulthood. These productions tend to sell out early, and tickets are already on sale, so be sure not to wait to secure tickets.
Novice Musical Theatre (ages 4-9): Winnie the Pooh KIDS
April 18, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m., tickets: $25
Curtain Call PAC says: “This delightful 30-minute performance is filled with music, friendship, and all the charm of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and their friends. Perfect for families, this production is suitable for all ages – a gentle, joyful introduction to musical theatre for young performers and young audiences alike.”
Intermediate Musical Theatre (ages 10-18): Matilda JR
May 7-9, 7 p.m. & May 9, 1 p.m., tickets: $25-30 (student/senior/adult)
Curtain Call PAC says: “This talented ensemble brings Roald Dahl’s iconic story to life. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. This production runs approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes including intermission and is suitable for all ages, making it a fantastic family outing filled with humour, heart, and a little bit of rebellion – just like Matilda herself.”
Curtain Call also puts on Passion Project productions featuring musical theatre performers with post-secondary arts training and regional performance experience. The next such production is Pippin in summer 2026.
NEED TO KNOW
Generations
Theatre Ancaster
March 14 & 15, 2 p.m.
Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre
357 Wilson St. E., Ancaster
Tickets: $21-41
Run time: approx. 1 hour 40 minutes + a 15 minute intermission
Approx. 8 years and up
Box office and more information on Theatre Ancaster programs here
Legally Blonde Jr
Curtain Call Performing Arts Company
March 14, 2 p.m.
Gasworks
141 Park St. N., Hamilton
Tickets: $25-30
Run time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
All ages
Box office and more information on CCPAC programs here
