Newcomer joins veteran cast in Kincardine Theatre Guild's "One Actmanship"

One new face has joined the veteran cast in the Kincardine Theatre Guild's production of Canadian playwright Norm Foster's comedy, "One Actmanship," which opens May 18 at the Kincardine Arts Centre.

Bailey Baldassari, 21, of Kincardine moved here a year ago from North Bay where she graduated from a program in social work. She currently works at the Kincardine Home Hardware.

"Acting is something I've always liked to do," she said. "I grew up in Milton and we put on summer camp productions there."

So, she went to the auditions, tried out for all the female roles, and was cast as Cassie in "The Death of Me," one of two one-act plays in the show.

"Cassie is complicated but she's not a bad person," said Baldassari. "It's a fun role to play because I'm not like that at all. She goes off the map eventually."

Baldassari said working with the cast and crew at the theatre guild is great. "If I have a bad night, they are all very supportive, and they give me tips on how to improve what I'm doing."

She really enjoys being on stage. "It's a lot of fun. You kind of morph into somebody you aren't. With this role, I'm way out of my comfort zone."

While she has performed in plays before, this is her first major production and she said one challenge is to learn to properly block the action. "You have to remember where to stand and sit, and how to move, in each scene."

Baldassari said she would like to continue to work with the theatre guild. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, dancing, gardening and horseback riding.

Amber Rawlings has taken on the job of directing the other one-act play, "My Narrator," and while it's not her first time directing a play, it's her first time in this role with the Kincardine Theatre Guild.

"Things are starting to pick up now," she said, "which is critical with comedy. I was initially a bit leery of casting a father-daughter, with Rob Millar and Sarah Foster in the same play, but it's working well. I've always wanted to direct Millar in a show."

The remainder of the cast includes Deb Tripp and Jason Geberdt who was named best newcomer by the Western Ontario Drama League for his performance in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat."

While she is enjoying her role of directing, Rawlings said she would prefer to be on stage.

"One Actmanship" is two one-act comedies: "My Narrator" and "The Death of Me."

In "My Narrator," Lacy’s narrator — you know, the voice inside her head — suddenly starts thinking for itself and less for Lacy. The cast includes Sarah Foster as Lacy, Jason Geberdt as Miles, Rob Millar as Bob, and Deb Tripp as Barb, directed by Rawlings.

In "The Death of Me," John learns that sometimes the mistakes you may have made in your past, can’t just be fixed within one afternoon. The cast includes Shane Middelkamp as John, Barry Neilson as the Angel of Death, Bailey Baldassari as Cassie, and Matt Harvey as the Doctor, directed by Jennifer Neil.

The show opens May 18 at 8 p.m., at the Kincardine Arts Centre, and runs May 19 and 26, and June 1 and 2 at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees planned for May 20, 27 and 28.

Tickets are $20 each (an extra $5 each for the gala on May 19); available at J'Adorn in downtown Kincardine, or by calling 519-396-9000.