Courtenay Little Theatre invites Comox Valley theatre goers to a special event at the Stan Hagen Theatre this weekend.
A staged play reading of On Golden Pond will be on the bill at the North Island College venue this Saturday.
This touching, funny and warmly perceptive study of a spirited and lovable elderly couple has become a classic since its first off-Broadway run in 1978.
This performance of Ernest Thompson’s wonderful comedy is a benefit event with all proceeds of the evening earmarked for Kymme Patrick, a highly regarded Valley theatre colleague and owner of TheatreWorks, who has returned home to the valley after many weeks of intensive treatment for cancer in Victoria.
Patrick has been an integral member of our rich theatre community for many years embracing many roles in thespian events in the Comox Valley. As an actress, writer, director, producer, publicist, teacher, advocate, to name some of the key areas in which she has worked, Patrick has brought many characters and original productions to life throughout a career that has now spanned some 35+ years.
Last Fall she was looking forward to a busy season at Theatreworks teaching and creating productions. However, once her illness had been confirmed and treatment began, Patrick found her business ventures and aspirations too much to continue and both regretfully had to be halted.
For those who have been similarly afflicted and also for caretakers of loved ones and friends with the disease, it will be no surprise to learn that Patrick is now experiencing a very strong desire to regain some semblance of control and balance in her life.
For this highly professional and creative thespian recovering also means the joy of seeing her beloved Theatreworks back in full swing with the fulfillment of turning marvelous ideas into scripts and bringing creative moments to fruition in exciting, interesting productions.
Patrick wants to get her classes restarted and with the courage of a born trouper even dares to envision her students “onstage” as early as this coming summer. Getting a business back into full swing requires not only a solid capital outlay but also dealing monetarily with a myriad of details that will facilitate the remarketing needing to take place. It is with the intent of helping our erstwhile theatre colleague by alleviating some of the financial stresses of getting back on her feet again, that Courtenay Little Theatre is performing the staged play reading for “On Golden Pond” for the discerning valley audiences. For more information or to make a donation to Patrick’s recovery efforts please feel free to contact Gail Limber at aglimber@shaw.ca.
It will be a one-night-only event with doors opening at 6:30 for a 7:30 curtain time. The delightful music of Larry Ayre’s guitar will also be pre-show entertainment from 6:45 – 7:15 p.m.
Admission is by donation ($10 suggested) and refreshments will be available. The Stan Hagen theatre has a 200 seat limit for this performance and there will be no pre-sales or reservations, so best to come early to enjoy the great evening promised you by the accomplished actors of CLT. — Courtenay Little Theatre