What could I, a 69-year-old retired public relations practitioner (who can’t carry a tune in a bucket), and 17-year-old student Maggie (who has the voice of an angel) possibly have in common?
Well, we both live in Almonte, for one. And we’ll both take to the stage for two shows (2 pm and 7:30 pm) at the upcoming Puppets Up! Chautauqua on Saturday, November 15, at the Almonte Old Town Hall.
But that’s where the commonalities end. Despite her youth, Maggie Boughner is a seasoned performer; and despite my ‘seniority,’ this will be my first time on stage. (As a community theatre publicist, I’m normally behind the scenes.)
“Maggie is an award-winning musical theatre performer and vocalist,” says Chautauqua Assistant Director Hollie Maffenbeier. “Last year she starred as Wednesday Addams in the Mississippi Mudds’ youth production of The Addams Family. This fall, in addition to the Chautauqua, she’ll perform in Songs of The War Years, a fundraiser for the Almonte Legion, on November 21st. Maggie is a delight and everyone will be charmed by her range, energy and powerful voice.”
“Susan, on the other hand, is a writer, blogger, poet and our eldest performer,” says Hollie. “She’ll recite the Canadian classic The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service. I was there during her audition and I guarantee her interpretation will have you howling on the edge of your seat! It’s really well done and tons of fun.”
Maggie and I are just two of a dozen acts in what promises to be a truly varied and wonderfully entertaining Chautauqua line-up.
The Rosemary Breman School of Dance in Carleton Place will bring highland dancers Dorothy Lockhart, Olivia Freeman, Emma Wiggins, Cameron Wiggins, Raven McIntyre and Talia McIntyre in full Gaelic dance regalia.
A cross-section of Jennifer Noxon’s seventy-member-strong Rhythm & Song! Community Choir will be on hand to share a selection of their uplifting, upbeat and playful repertoire. This is a rare treat as the Community Choir does not usually perform in public. They’re making an exception for the Puppets Up! Chautauqua.
Darren Brocklehurst, who played Henry Rosamond and Dorothy’s father in Humm Team Production’s musicals Spinning Yarns and The Wizard is Odd…? respectively, is trading harmonies for punchlines in his stand-up comedy debut. Is Darren a little nervous? Sure. But after decades on stage, he’s ready to laugh, learn, and maybe even bring the house down!
Almonte community theatre regulars Kristen Ritchie, Kathy Duncan and Zach Brown have collaborated on a two-person, one-puppet skit and are calling their newly formed group Zach and the RollerBabes. All three of them are kinda’ whacky in their own rights and will undoubtedly deliver triple the trouble when teamed up. Hilarity will surely ensue. (More here)
Speaking of funny, stand-up comic Bobby Knauff and his puppet sidekick Andre the Alien are guaranteed to keep you in stitches. Bobby has appeared on Much Music and MTV and has toured across Canada headlining with Yuk Yuks. In May, 2020 he put out his first album “Rock Bottom.” He says he prefers cats to people. (See Bobby and Andre in a post-audition interview here.
Actor, singer/songwriter and playwright, Kelly Torck, will sing on her own (accompanying herself on keyboard) as well as part of the six-member, world-renowned Jingle Belles whose five other members (Kris Riendeau, Amanda Becking, Gillian Mills, Sheila Craig and Bonnie Vallentyne) are also all accomplished vocalists.
The multi-talented Bonnie Vallentyne wrote and arranged the lighthearted and whimsical jingles as musical tributes to Chautauqua sponsors Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm, 8008 Lingerie / Margaret’s Closet, Ramsay Creek Garden Centre, and Vamos Outdoors (Hear the Belles here.)
Two other jingles, for Don’s Meat Market and Moe’s Shawarma, will be sung by The Try Tones, a recently formed barbershop quartet comprising Tony Bove, Andy Williams, James Torck and Andy Doré. This fabulous foursome will also perform a couple of songs from their own repertoire. (Get a taste of what that will be like here.)
Last, but certainly not least, twenty-one year-old puppeteer Liam Prince will travel from London, ON, to perform on November 15th. Liam fell in love with puppets at the age of six and began making his own characters at age 12. He created The Crumpits, a puppet troupe who have their own show on a London cable TV network. Liam was mentored by Noreen Young and was one of the street performers at the 2023 Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival.
The evening will also feature the lively and talented Patti and Jon Lockhart as human hosts, along with Stephen Brathwaite, Jenny Sheffield and Zach Brown as a puppet peanut gallery. “Besides all this, we may even have a couple of surprise guests pop in,” says Hollie. “It’s going to be absolutely brilliant!”
Proceeds from the Chautauqua will support both the 2026 Puppets Up! Festival as well as the new Noreen Young Award for the Arts.
Get your tickets at TicketsPlease.ca
Featured Photo Credit: Hannah Renaud, Hann Solo Photos
