January 29, 2017
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Three new faces will take to the stage for the Kincardine Theatre Guild's world premiere of "Office Politics," written by Kincardine playwright Corinne Robertson-Brown.
Julie Lafond as Tiffany, Nichole Foreman as Mrs. Prendergast, and Sarah Hoyland as Belinda, have joined the theatre guild for this production which opens Friday, Feb. 10, at the Kincardine Arts Centre.
JULIE LAFOND
Originally from Welland, Lafond has lived in Ripley for the past six years, and has four children, ages seven-and-a-half, 10, 11 and 13. She is the supervisor at Little Beginnings Day Care in Kincardine.
A very dramatic and enthusiastic individual, she did some acting in high school but that was it until she came to the Kincardine Theatre Guild production of "Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat" which revived her passion for theatre.
She attended the auditions for "Office Politics" and was cast as Tiffany, a young, perky, naive intern.
"It's a wonderful role," said Lafond, "and the theatre guild is like a big family, so accepting and kind, and so talented That's a little intimidating, so I made sure I memorized my lines over and over again." She would like to get more involved with the theatre guild in the future.
While she is excited about opening night, she admitted to being a bit nervous. "My family is coming - my brother and sister-in-law and their three kids, and my in-laws."
Lafond also has a passion for painting, and has created several murals at the Little Beginnings Day Care. She likes to work in acrylics for her paintings on canvas.
NICHOLE FOREMAN
Foreman is excited to take on the role of the ghastly Mrs. Prendergast.
"I'm channeling my inner Cruella De Vil for this part," she said, with a laugh. "She's simply wonderful to play."
Originally from Toronto, Foreman and her husband (her high school sweetheart) moved to Kincardine in 2002, and four years later, he was hired at Bruce Power. They now live in Walkerton and have two children, aged 11 and 14.
While living in Kincardine, she worked for two years at Dr. Wayne King's optometrist office. She now has four part-time jobs: a school bus driver, operating a massage business, assistant teacher of ballroom dancing at Lorusso School of Dance in Kincardine, and landscaping in the summer.
Foreman has experience on stage, having performed in about six plays over the past four years.
"I did my first play at the age of 37," she said. "My mother forced me to audition for the Hanover Community Players, and I played the part of a fitness instructor, in the play, 'Is There Life After 50?'. Now, I love being on stage, and I have taken on every role I can in community theatre."
"Office Politics" is her sixth play, and she is thrilled to be part of the Kincardine Theatre Guild.
"When you're involved in theatre in Bruce County, you understand the hierarchy," she said. "The Kincardine Theatre Guild is where it's at. They do the best productions, and the most plays; they have people with skills in everything - lighting, sound, sets. It makes a big difference."
She is excited to be performing in a play during Canada's 150th year of celebration, and a play that will be adjudicated for the Western Ontario Drama League Festival.
"Everybody here is great," she said. "The group dynamics are awesome. I love the stage, I love working with these people and I love this show."
SARAH HOYLAND
Hoyland has lived in Kincardine for about a year with her partner, Garrison Brown, and 10-month-old son, Max.
She also has acting experience, having worked with the Grey-Wellington Theatre Guild in Harriston for a couple of years.
Originally from Orillia, she was living in Guelph and attending university there when she met Brown, and they later moved to Harriston and then Kincardine.
"I wanted to get back on the stage, and Garrison and I discussed it," she said. "We both have an interest in theatre so he performed in 'Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat' in the fall, and I auditioned for this play."
Hoyland said she wanted to ease back into acting, so she tried out for the role of Belinda, Mrs. Prendergast's assistant, who has no speaking part.
"I love it," she said. "These are wonderful people to work with, and it's a great community here. I want to continue to be part of this group."
Currently on maternity leave, Hoyland works in the information technology department at the University of Guelph. She is also a professional photographer and operates her own business, Simple Words Photography.
CORINNE ROBERTSON-BROWN
Robertson-Brown owns and operates J'Adorn in downtown Kincardine, with her husband, Bill. They have both been involved in the Kincardine Theatre Guild for several years.
The writer and director of "Office Politics," she initially wrote it as a one-act play for the Western Ontario Drama League mini-festival in 2012.
"At these events, you are encouraged to do something different," she said. "I've been on-stage and back-stage, so I decided to write a play."
Having worked in an office setting during her job at Bruce Power, she decided to focus on office dynamics and how they play out. When the play was adjudicated, Robertson-Brown was told she should turn it into a full two-act play, which she did.
"I had to change the ending a bit so I could turn it into a full play," she said. "I was still working at Bruce Power at the time, but I finally finished it in January of 2016."
She submitted it to the theatre guild and the group decided in June to stage it for the February production.
"I'm thrilled and scared," said Robertson-Brown. "Initially, I had no director for it - everyone seemed to be away or busy. And we had a lot of roles to fill - four men and four women."
This is also her first time solo directing; she was assistant director for "Mrs. Parliament's Night Out," working with director Jim Peddie.
So, how does it feel to direct your own play?
"It is really exciting," she said. "This is the world premiere of my first play. I know my vision of how it's supposed to be staged, and how the lines should be delivered. That's an advantage, for sure. And the play is to be adjudicated during the matinee Sunday, Feb. 12, for the Western Ontario Drama League Festival."
Robertson-Brown said inclement weather and illness have created challenges for rehearsals. However, most of the sickness occurred during the Christmas break, including her own bout with the flu.
The casting was difficult because so many extremely-talented individuals auditioned, she said. "We have a wonderful cast and I am so excited for opening night.
"I love writing and I love theatre, so it's wonderful to combine the two."
"Office Politics" is a comedy about creative colleagues who have their own ideas as they try to outdo each other to impress their wealthy client, Mrs. Prendergast. Among the characters, are Sam, the office manager, who struggles to keep track of his lively office staff; Brad who is waiting for retirement; and Tiffany, the eager intern, trying to keep everyone happy.
These are just some of the interesting characters the audience gets to know on a typical work day when their lives will be changed forever.
The play opens Friday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. (gala night) and continues Feb. 11 and 12 at 2 p.m.; Feb. 16-17 and 24 at 8 p.m.; and Feb. 18 and 25, at 2 p.m. For this show, there will be cabaret seating and licensed premises.
Tickets are $20 each (extra $5 for gala night); available at J'Adorn in downtown Kincardine at at 519-396-9000.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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