Working together for Farran’s future

MORRISBURG – One month to the day since she mailed two pairs of baby booties, to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, for the royal baby, Prince George, Madeline Carkner received a thank you card complete with a picture of the young family. 

“I’m so excited. When they brought it I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she says of the special delivery to her room at the Dundas Manor in Winchester. “I sent the booties on August 20th, and they mailed the thank you on Tuesday, September 17. I got it on Friday, September 20th.”

Since the arrival of the thank you picture, Madeline’s room has been a busy spot with friends, family and staff at the manor popping by.

“Once I received it, word soon got around. Just about everybody has stopped in to see it, even the CEO [Cholly Boland] from the Hospital [Winchester District Memorial] came right in to see it when he was here. Everybody and their brother has been in.”

“They say that bad news travels fast; well, good news travels fast too.”

The picture includes William and Kate, with Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, born July 22, in Kate’s arms.

The message on the back reads: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were most touched that you took the trouble to write as you did on the occasion of the birth of their son, Prince George. Their Royal Highnesses have been overwhelmed by all the wonderful messages they have received and send you their warmest thanks and best wishes.”

Madeline explains that she got the idea to knit and send the booties from the director of activities at the Manor. “It turned out the baby was a boy, so I made a white pair and a blue pair. I thought I would likely hear back, but not for a few months.”

Having lived all of her life in the Morrisburg area, Madeline has been at the Dundas Manor for the past 7.5 years. For the last five years, she has been in a wheelchair. She spends much of her time knitting and crocheting, while listening to the radio. She says she keeps up with the news in Morrisburg through visitors, and of course, her weekly Leader.

Her knitted mittens and slippers, made in assorted sizes and colours, are done for the Manor bazaar, which raises money to help offset expenses for various excursions for the residents.

Madeline, who will be 81 in December, has arranged for a two sided picture frame for viewing of both the picture and the message. She invites friends to drop by the manor for a visit and a viewing.  

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The Iroquois Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade will be moving ahead now that a construction contract has been approved.

At the December 20th South Dundas council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald submitted the recommendation that J.C. Sulpher Construction Ltd. be awarded the contract with their tendered bid of $12,299,808 excluding HST.

The bid was one of seven received, coming in at $176,792 lower than the second lowest bid.  AECOM reviewed all bids and recommended J.C. Sulpher Construction Ltd. to the Ontario Clean Water Agency, who, in turn, agreed and passed on the recommendation to South Dundas council.

In addition to being the lowest bid, J.C. Sulpher Construction Ltd. also provided excellent references, which included work done on the Morrisburg Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Councillor Jim Graham added his recommendation saying, “I’m glad to see Sulpher back. They did a fantastic job.”

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 Spring is coming, and so are the laughs at Upper Canada Playhouse.

It’s only two weeks to the start of the new season at the Playhouse. A rip-roaring and hilarious production of Norm Foster’s The Foursome will kick off 2012, with a special two week run, March 16 to April 1. 

“We wanted to introduce a new spring time slot into our season,” said artistic director, Donnie Bowes, at a recent press conference. “People have been asking us to run a spring show, and we thought why not a familiar, funny and popular play like The Foursome? We’re starting right now to get out our brochures and publicity, especially as this initial production will only have a two week run, rather than the four week runs in the main season: there are still some good seats available.

And this play is such a fun time for the audience and the actors too. People will really enjoy seeing it.”

It was evident at the press conference, from the closeness of the cast, that The Foursome is going to be a show no one will want to miss.

Jesse Collins, who is directing this production, is a veteran actor and director. He has worked extensively on television (he starred in Katts n Dog), on stage and on screen, and appeared at Upper Canada Playhouse in The Affections of May.

“It’s going to be great doing double duty as the character Ted and as the director. Our initial read through of the play was wonderful,” Collins said. “The camaraderie and relationships between the four guys are crucial. This play is an ensemble piece where everyone is out there the whole time. There are terrific one liners and rich comedy in Norm’s show. That makes it even better to have such experienced and collaborative actors to work with.”

Richard Bauer, who plays Rick (“slightly obnoxious with a lot of bravado”) has acted in The Foursome before. (“He’s taken the same role again so he doesn’t have to learn any new lines,” Collins chimed in to laughter from the cast) “This is a wonderful show, a real treat,” Bauer said.

Brian Young, as Cameron, the “cheerleader” of the group, admits that he loves the show and  “playing non stop golf. I’ve always wanted to do The Foursome.”

Sweeney MacArthur, who plays Donnie, the only character in the group who has no idea how to golf, describes him, with a grin, as the “doofus.” “But it’s great to work with friends in a show about friends.”

“The Foursome is about so much more than just golf,” Donnie Bowes said. “It carries so much of the trademark Foster hilarity that appeals to both men and women, whether they play golf or not. Actually there isn’t much in life that Norm loves more than golf. He wrote the script in six weeks, following a round with three old friends. I actually like to think that Norm may have named his character Donnie after me,” he added.

“Yup,” said MacArthur, to cast laughter, “the one who absolutely can’t play golf.”

The cast has been rehearsing the show on a striking set especially designed by Playhouse technical director, Sean Free. 

“We wanted a golf course on the set, and we wanted it to mimic a real course,” Free explained.

By actually removing parts of the existing stage to open up the space, Free has been able to skillfully “suggest literal items on a golf course,” director Collins said. “He has been able to create  levels, depth and a versatile, workable and practical set for the actors.”

And by using a black scrim as part of the set design, Free will be able to bounce light, creating sun movements and sky effects throughout the play. “It allows me to create the passage of time. It should make the entire golf game very interesting for the audience.”

With its strong cast and direction, performed on a breath-taking set, brimming with the  memorable characterizations and non-stop laughter so typical of Norm Foster, The Foursome is the ideal way to start the new season at Upper Canada Playhouse.

For tickets and information, contact 613-543-3713

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