Seaway Valley Theatre Company

Article by Cheryl Brink
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19 January 2011

Cornwall - A local theatre company has done a complete turnaround: from the family
classic Fiddler on the Roof last year to the romantic comedy Guys and Dolls opening next month.

"The community will see the Seaway Valley Theatre Company is capable of anything,'' said the show's director Brenda Quesnel. ''White fiddler revolves around one character and has some dark undertones, Quesnel said Guys and Dolls is "campy'', and all about the ensemble. "If you have good producers you can do just about anything," she said about how they are pulling off the change.

Quesnel chose the play last spring, after theatre company officials practically begged her to take on the director's role: she has been part of the group for a couple of years. Besides directing, Quesnel is also doing the bulk of the choreography in an effort to ensure a seamless show. "I don't have a nine-to-five job,'' she said about why she can invest so much time into the production. "This is what I do."

When asked her favourite aspect of putting the whole show together, Quesnel had a quick response: working with her family. For the first time, both of Quesnel' daughters and her husband are involved alongside her. All theater cast members, and her girls are also helping with dance numbers. "We did make it a family affair," she said.

With 49 cast members, 17 musicians in the orchestra and more than 30 backstage crew, it's not hard to find relatives on stage next to each other. "This is what happens with community theatre," said co-producer Christiane Taylor about all of the connections between participants. Taylor said they started getting ready for the production in May, recruited their production crew over the summer and held auditions in early September.

Later that month they began rehearsals, which have been running strong three days a week ever since. Sunday run throughs are now full-day affairs at Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School; the cafeteria is buzzing with activity as actors run through scenes and try on costumes.

A production like this is about $30,000 to put together," said Taylor, who also plays a hot box girl. She is producing the show along with Lise Richer. Quesnel's husband, Jean-Guy Quesnel, has the role of Sky Masterson. Heather Gallinger is playing Sarah Brown, Mike DeWolfe is cast as Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide is done by Pam Lalonde.

Participants have to do more than act - they'll also be singing and dancing their way through the show. "There's a lot of big musical numbers.,' said Taylor.

The cast began rehearsing alongside the orchestra this week, and though Taylor said things are running smoothly, the production's move to its official venue is always stressful as adjustments are made.

"The week before the performance is very intense," said Taylor. Guys and Dolls opens at Aultsville Theatre on Feb. 11 "It's a labour of love," said Quesnel. "You do it because you love what you do. I love people; I love all these different personalities.