TNIM will join Studio Theatre Perth in An Evening of One Act Plays Oct. 29,30,31 & Nov1
Play 1 – Reception by Guy Newsham Directed by Barry Patrick
Reception, written by Ottawa playwright Guy Newsham, is a fast moving, poignant comedy about middle-aged, divorced people navigating romance at a wedding reception. On Tilly’s wedding day, her divorced mother Claire arrives with Ron, while her divorced father Jordie brings Britney. As parents, dates, and a dessert-loving priest collide, Tilly learns more about her family, love, and marriage while calmly taking the chaos in stride. This play will be TNIM’s entry in the 2026 EODL One Act Play Festival.
Play 2 – Smoke and Mirrors by John Kenny Directed by Jane Stott
In Smoke and Mirrors, local author, actor, playwright, and retired firefighter John Kenny presents a memory play directed by Jane Stott. Narrated by Brent, who appears in every scene in a hospital gown, the story moves between a firehouse, a hospital room, and a warehouse fire. Brent has a dark secret and little time left to make it right. This play will be Studio Perth’s entry in the 2026 EODL One Act Play Festival.
Tickets $24 for adults, youth under 17 and students with id $12 at Tickets Please 613-485-6434 or ticketsplease.ca or at the door or through boxoffice@studiotheatreperth.com
It’s a Wonderful Life!
Christmastime in Merrickville starts off with a popular Yuletide staple this November as Theatre Night in Merrickville presents the COBA Radio Hour version of It’s a Wonderful Life!
Unlike the 1946 movie by Frank Capra and the original story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern, this version is adapted for radio-on-stage by Anthony E. Palermo. The result is a play where the audience feels like it’s sitting in an actual radio station, watching all the voice actors and sound engineers behind the scenes as they bring a story to life for the radio waves.
“It’s the first time we’ve done live theatre with standing microphones, in our whole history,” explains Director Bronwen McKnight. “Nobody learns their lines because a radio play is done with your script in your hand. If the audience closes its eyes they will think they are listening to a 1940s radio play just like grandma and grandpa did.”
There are 14 actors, but add in the on-set stage manager, live musicians, and live sound effects people all sharing the spotlight, and it’s a much larger production.
“It’s all voice work, plus it’s heavy on the technical side. The sound effects crew will be using common household items for unusual sounds,” says McKnight. “Who knew squeezing a box of Baking Soda would sound like walking on snow!”
Vicki Graham, James Clugston, and Chris Shearman make up the live sound crew and have a wide variety of tools and gadgets in front of them, ready to make noise on cue.
“They’re hamming it up and having such a good time. The difficult part is to make sure the soundtrack and the live special effects are meshing properly.”
The radio play is being billed as COBA Radio Hour, which is a nod to one of this production’s main sponsors, as well as to Lux Radio Theatre, a highly popular, hour-long anthology series that was a staple of the Golden Age of Radio.
True to vintage radio shows, this production is not without its advertisers, and several local businesses have secured spots that will be featured on a projector and set to live music throughout the play.
“We’re interviewing the advertisers and making it look very 1940s. We’re writing our own original jingles to go with their ads which will be shown on a projector throughout the show,” says McKnight.
Historically, TNIM presents its two major annual productions at the community centre where volunteer crew build the set and the bleachers for the audience from the ground up for every show. Since the radio play version of It’s a Wonderful Life! is a big departure from TNIM’s usual theatrical fare, McKnight felt a different venue would better suit this project.
“I wanted to do it at the Pews because I love that space,” she says. “It is the essence of community. This play will have involved close to 40 people by the time we’re done.”
Artistic Director, Leyna Sanger, agrees.
“The Pews is a really beautiful building. It’s a beautiful space. It’s a nice change for us,” she says. “There are some design challenges for us because it’s a smaller stage but we seem to have been able to work around it.”
Among other things, Sanger and her team have recreated heaven for the small stage.
“We’ve got the sun and moon and stars,” she says. “We also have a big “on air” sign since we’re in a radio station. But I think the sound effects are going to be one of the most interesting parts.”
Mcknight says there are a lot of moving parts to this play, and as show time approaches, all the different departments are beginning to gel.
“We’re just at the point where all the work everyone’s been doing on their own is all starting coming together,” she says. “It’s going to be chaos. And then it’s going to be awesome.”
TNIM has entered this play in the Eastern Ontario Drama League’s full-length play competition. Adjudication for the festival runs from October to March as each production is performed at its own venue, while the judge travels to see each show.
“By entering the EODL full-length festival, we are holding ourselves up against our peers with this show,” says McKnight. “I picked the play because it’s well-known, but as a radio play it’s different. It’s also not your typical feel-good Christmas show.”
Sanger adds that while it does have a happy ending, getting there is an emotional ride.
“It is a tear-jerker,” she admits. “It’s about the importance of community. It’s about how you can feel alone amongst people.” – By Andrea Lewandowski
It’s a Wonderful Life! runs November 19 and 20 at 7pm, and November 21 and 22 at 2 pm at the Pews. Tickets are $20