How It Began (cont'd)

The play reading soon progressed to a desire to put on a play. By that time the membership had increased and we agreed to contribute $10 each to finance an evening of two one-act plays. In the February 1969 edition of the Kanata Standard it was announced that two “Kanata Theatre Workshop” productions: The Lady-Killers directed by Laurence Thornton and Rise and Shine directed by Mary Mauger would be presented at Leacock School on April 12^th. The cast had been chosen from within the group but “behind the scenes” positions still needed to be filled. “Anyone interested in contributing a little of their time and talent to make this effort of the Workshop a success” was invited to contact the Producer, Dewi Williams. Tickets priced at $1.25 for adults were available from Bob Knight and some of those first ticket buyers are still our loyal subscribers. The cast of Rise and Shine consisted of Kim Thornton and Sandra Davidge (two teenagers who later married) and Eufron and Dewi Williams. In The Lady- Killers were Rosemary Scott, Elsie Bryant, Rosemary Hollands (later Keneford), Ted Mauger, Kathy Stevenson, Janet Bayley and Gwen Knight.

On November 14^th and 15^th, 1969 three more one - acts were produced: Rehearsal, Heaven on Earth and Robertson Davies’ The Voice of the People. Robin Dorrell, the critic from the now defunct Ottawa Journal, had this to say: “ A large turnout in dreadful weather is a sign that an amateur theatre is doing a good job. The Kanata Theatre Group is no exception.” He did not like the play Heaven on Earth directed by John Callow, but felt a poor script “... was saved by the acting of Mary Mauger with a charming portrayal of a most unflappable mother”. He stated that Rehearsal directed by Helen Hunter, “...needed a great deal more” and it was “...a silly play at best and it would be hard to make much of it”. He felt that the best had been saved to the last, The Voice of the People directed by Laurence Thornton. “Good casting and direction made it even funnier. Doreen Boss, George Moore, Ron Maslin, and Paula Williams were right on target”.

That season we also presented a Children’s play in January and finally, in May 1970 our first full-length presentation: Noel Coward’s Present Laughter directed by Laurence Thornton. The lead role of “Gary Essendine” was played by Ron Maslin who was described in the program as having “great experience in all aspects of the theatre, both in Canada and in England”. Ron also designed the set and from then on was the guiding light for much