Leamington showcased its visitor appeal and The Bank Theatre showcased its talent, commitment and volunteerism during the five-day Western Ontario Drama League Festival held here last week. The WODL Festival got underway on Wednesday, May 14 with an opening reception, prior to the three community theatre teams involved getting to work to present their plays.
Festival chair Corey Robertson welcomed everyone to the opening ceremony and promised an exciting festival, including workshops for playwriting, acting, and sound and lighting techniques.
“Welcome back to festival!” he exclaimed. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Robertson and his committee put together a top-notch event that was enjoyed by all, as the weekend culminated in an awards gala Sunday to celebrate the finest in theatre that southwestern Ontario has to offer.
The three community theatre groups — Elmira, Woodstock and The Bank Theatre — put on their nominated and adjudicated plays over three days and the weekend wrapped up with an awards luncheon on Sunday, May 18.
Bright and early Thursday morning, the stage crew from the Elmira Theatre Company began their set-building and preparation of the stage, sound and lighting for their Thursday evening performance of Forever Love, which had the audience in stitches.
Then, Friday morning the group from Theatre Woodstock took the stage and erected their set, prior to the evening performance of My Old Lady — a great story about an American who inherits a Paris apartment, complete with its former owner.
Saturday morning, it was The Bank Theatre’s turn as the Sun Parlour Players set crew backed up to the theatre and then built the set for Halfway There, a hilarious but touching Norm Foster play about four best friends from Nova Scotia and the new doctor in town.
Meanwhile, throughout the week, the Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Centre played host to the visiting theatre companies and offered workshops on acting, playwriting and lighting techniques. It was also the site of the opening ceremony and the awards luncheon.
The Bank Theatre manager Michelle Fortier was tired but thrilled to see everything come together.
“We couldn’t have done this without our team of volunteers,” she said. “They are a small but mighty group, but they have hearts of gold.”
Fortier said over 50 volunteers worked countless hours to make the event what it was.
Robertson emceed the awards luncheon on Sunday, May 18, which carried a “roaring ’20s” theme, thanks to the work of committee member Diane Tofflemire, who was able to bring the roaring ’20s decor to life.
He then handed the microphone over to Andre Paradis of WODL, who announced the award nominees from the 23 plays adjudicated during the 2024-25 season. Out-of-festival adjudicator Trevor Smith-Diggins then announced the winners.
During this portion, Brett Hallick took home the award for best cameo appearance for his role of Junior in The Bank Theatre’s Halfway There.
Dracula, presented here last fall, was nominated for four awards, but didn’t get the nod.
In total, over 40 awards were handed out, including the in-festival awards, for which only the three festival plays were eligible.
That’s when Halfway There really rose to the occasion, adding Best Ensemble, Best Scene Transitions and Best Visual Set to their accolades.
It wasn’t finished, however, as in-festival adjudicator Lindsay Price also awarded Marnie Renaud-Gare Best Supporting Actor for her role as Mary Ellen in Halfway There.
“Her signature laugh and she fought with a coat like her life depended on it,” said Price regarding Renaud-Gare’s performance from Saturday night.
She then gave a special adjudicator’s Running Gag award to Renaud-Gare’s castmate Melissa McLeod for her variety of water bottles she used during Saturday’s performance.
After that, Dean Valentino — who starred as Dr. Sean Merritt and also directed Halfway There — took the Best Director award.
And the final award of the night — Best Production in Festival — went to Halfway There as well.
Forever Love and My Old Lady also garnered several awards for the in-festival portion, including a Best Supporting Actor nod to Eve Cohen for My Old Lady, and Best Actor awards to Joe Brenner and Liz Dennis for Forever Love.
The cast and crew of Halfway There pose with WODL President Sue Garner, second from right, at the festival’s awards luncheon after being named Best Festival Production. From left are Katherine Abuquerque, John Moran, Penny Gil, Melissa McLeod, Marnie Renaud-Gare, Brett Hallick, Dean Valentino, Michele Legere, Sue Garner and Sumaya Black. Kriste
Lamoure-Dias was absent for the photo.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Festival Chair Corey Robertson is flanked by Halfway There Stage Manager Sumaya Black (left) and festival committee member Diane Tofflemire at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, May 14.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Marnie Renaud-Gare was the recipient of the WODL award for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Mary Ellen in Halfway There. Here she is with WODL’s Peter Busby.
SUN photo by Paul Forman
Melissa McLeod accepts her Special Adjudicator’s Award for her portrayal of Vi in Halfway There. With her is WODL representative Peter Busby.
SUN photo by Paul Forman
Halfway There director and actor Dean Valentino accepts the Adjudicator’s Award for Effective Scene Changes from WODL representative Renata Solski. Valentino also received an Outstanding Direction award.
SUN photo by Paul Forman
Eve Cohen reacts to John Settle’s character during the Friday, May 16 production of My Old Lady. Cohen won a Best Supporting Actor award and Settle took an award for Best Memorable Moment.
SUN photo by Paul Forman
Brett Hallick, right, won Best Cameo for pre-festival performance for his work as Junior in Halfway There. Here, he accepts his award from Audrey Hummelen.
SUN photo by Paul Forman
