D.D.O.N’T MISS IT! One-Act Wonders Hit The West Island
Michael Martini
The Lakeshore Players Dorval have delighted Dorval, D.D.O., and the rest of the West for nearly 60 years now. This week, the Dorval dramatists deliver a fresh new concept: One-Act Wonders. Here, a team of seasoned and ready-to-be seasoned talent take the stage to perform four short plays that pack a punch in the funny bone, with directors Donna Byrne, Susan Freed, and Kosta Kokosopoulous in the drivers seats. What plays will the public be treated to? Well, that’s where the “wonder,” comes in. We’ll have to wait and see, but we can rest assured this community theatre group has carefully selected nostalgic classics by beloved playwrights with laughs on demand.
The directors, crew, and production team of One Act Wonders, running November 22-23!
Ah, yes, community: the ubiquitous buzzword of the theatre world. The idea of community is so often easier said (say, in a mission statement or grant application) than done. But one need look no further than actual community theatre to see the real deal at work. I’m talking the kind of theatre where doctors, lawyers, and moms paint the sets, where 16 year-olds shoot the breeze with 60 year-olds backstage, and where shows are prepared with the dynamic energy of a big family dinner. At Lakeshore Players Dorval, we immediately see authentic community in full-swing, with no lip-service in sight. Here, company members refer to each other as family, blending generations and walks of life. Lifelong friendships are found. Marriages too, I’m told- or so says the scuttlebutt.
The cast of One Act Wonders!
One long-standing member even recounts to me some advice among the last breaths of her late mother, a veteran actress. That final advice was to seek out and join the Lakeshore Players Dorval. At that point, I’d say this company’s gotta be worth checking out. Over 20 years ago, this member took that tip to heart and tried out, landing a lead. She was told by her director: “Remember. There are no primadonnas here. Everyone gets their turn.” I’d like to imagine him pointing to a mop bucket after such an adage.
““Remember. There are no primadonnas here. Everyone gets their turn.””
The concept is clear though. In community theatre, you aren’t just part of a show; you’re part of a company. The front seat can’t happen without the back seat, and everyone gets their turn. The stagehand quick-changing you into your next costume is a friend you can share a laugh with, not just some anonymous headset honcho. You might be scanning tickets at the front of house as a familiar face asks you if you’re in the show tonight, or when you’ll be in the spotlight next. Everyone is family and everyone gets their hands dirty. Onstage, offstage, and around-the-stage are all bursting with energy, pride, and play.
Some try out just to try it out, and others are established thespians who join to keep their creative juices flowing. The company is frequently searching for members if you’re parched for a bit of proscenium, and hey, like all of us, they’re actively searching for audience members too.
The key is to catch One-Act Wonders on November 22nd and 23rd, down at the Beth Tikva Synagogue in D.D.O. These nights, all proceeds of ticket sales go straight to sustaining the Lakeshore Players Dorval. In an economic climate of precarity, support is needed more than ever to keep the beloved, historical company moving forward. Already, they’ve reduced their total number of productions a year, cut back on the frills, and brainstormed new concepts to keep the downsizing at bay.
Director Donna Byrne sets the stage!
The cast grabs a shot during a rehearsal!
To counterbalance the glitz of their upcoming Spring musical Guys and Dolls, the run of one-acts has been strategized for actors eager to hone their craft without having to bust out the jazz shoes. The volume is turned down on production value for One Act Wonders in order to zoom in on the cast’s acting chops. We're treated to an intimate staging of comedic texts. These are razor-sharp, well-written plays to know and love- the kind you might take out from the library.
Seeing community theatre is just as fun as being a part of it, isn’t it? Try not to smile watching hidden gems take the stage, land well-written jokes, and work the crowd without a pinch of pretension. I’d say we get treated to some diamonds in the rough, but let’s face it- many of the job-hunting actors fuelling the professional theatre scene are probably more in the rough than the moonlighters. But in all seriousness, when we check out community theatre, we're often reminded why we’re all doing this in the first place. For the love of it. For the opening night jitters. For the closing night cheers. For the craft. For the community.
Support One Act Wonders by Lakeshore Players Dorval on their fundraising evenings of November 22 and 23. Tickets can be found at: