Sketches of Leacock Scugog is bringing a new theatrical celebration of Canadian humour to Port Perry this August, with Theatre on the Ridge presenting an original production inspired by the writings of Stephen Leacock.
The family-friendly play is being performed on the outdoor stage at Scugog Shores Museum Village, with performances continuing through Aug. 23. Theatre on the Ridge’s official production information confirms an Aug. 5 preview followed by performances beginning Aug. 6.
Written and directed by Toronto-based actor, director, choreographer and educator Andy Massingham, the production brings several of Leacock’s stories and characters together in a revue-style evening of comedy.
Stephen Leacock stories brought to the stage
Massingham has wanted to adapt Leacock’s writing for theatre for decades after first discovering his work as a teenager.
His connection with Theatre on the Ridge began about five years ago, and his time in the Port Perry area helped shape the production.
Massingham said Leacock’s observations of small-town Canadian life feel particularly suited to Scugog and Port Perry, where community personalities, local businesses and everyday interactions can echo the kinds of characters found in Leacock’s stories.
The production features a five-member cast portraying multiple characters and interacting directly with the audience.
The show runs for approximately two hours, including an intermission.
Comedy inspired by small-town Canada
Stephen Leacock was born in England in 1869 and moved to Canada as a child. He later became closely associated with Orillia, Ontario.
Although known professionally as an academic and economist, Leacock became internationally recognized for his humorous essays and fiction.
Much of his writing satirized Canadian society and small-town life, highlighting ordinary personalities, local politics and situations in which good intentions produced unexpected or ridiculous outcomes.
Massingham describes the humour presented in the production as light and observational, allowing audiences to recognize familiar behaviour in Leacock’s fictional characters.
The play also provides an opportunity to introduce his work to audiences who may recognize Leacock’s name but have never read his stories.
Performances at Scugog Shores Museum Village
Sketches of Leacock Scugog is being staged at Scugog Shores Museum Village, located at 16210 Island Road in Port Perry.
The Township of Scugog identifies the museum village as the summer home of Theatre on the Ridge. The heritage property includes 11 restored buildings, gardens and cultural exhibits exploring the history of the Scugog area.
According to the supplied event information, 14 performances are scheduled between Aug. 6 and Aug. 23, combining afternoon and evening shows.
Tickets are listed at $48.
Production may have a future beyond Scugog
Massingham hopes a successful Port Perry run could eventually lead to performances elsewhere in Ontario.
For now, the focus is on creating a production that connects Leacock’s century-old observations of Canadian communities with modern audiences.
The play also acknowledges that Leacock’s historical legacy is complicated by views expressed in some of his writings that are considered racist, misogynistic and colonial today.
Despite that complicated legacy, the production focuses on his social satire, eccentric characters and observations about human behaviour.
For Theatre on the Ridge, Sketches of Leacock Scugog offers local audiences an original Canadian production in a setting that reflects many of the small-town qualities that inspired Leacock’s best-known humour.
