Rural Root Prepares for Show as Founders Reminisce

EMC April, 2009
By DEREK DUNN Associate Editor

EMC News - Rural Root members are putting the finishing touches on yet another production, to be staged at the end of this month; and while it may come as second nature to Martin and Helen Weeden, both of whom have been with the theatre company since it formed, they are the first to acknowledge that it hasn't been an easy road to travel.

"We are getting a name for ourselves. People are looking for the next production. They are asking when the next play is. And from our side, there are enough people involved that it has taken on a momentum of its own," said Helen, from the couple's Carp home on a sunny spring afternoon. "But it wasn't so easy in the past."

She is referring to Rural Root's first production, Council Chamber Capers, held – where else? – at the former township council chambers, now the Client Service Centre at Kinburn and Carp roads. It was the spring of 2005.

Area residents were upset that the city was considering converting the building into a P3 (public-private partnership), effectively taking away their right to utilize the facilities for community purposes. At the same time, theatre people in West Carleton like the Weedens were travelling to Arnprior or Kanata to participate in community theatre. That's when Helen and Martin were approached with the idea of staging a production.

"In six weeks!" Martin recalls, laughingly. "And then we were told we'd only have to put it on for one night. So they had no idea what they were asking. You don't put that much effort into something for one night."

It was a challenge finding actors willing to participate, to say the least: a new theatre company, less than two months before curtains up.

"It was a bit of a hard sell," said Helen, understating the situation. But the talent in West Carleton rose to the challenge. People like Bruce Buie, Valerie Jorgensen, Roy Ballantine and Marion Pogson all tossed their hat in. Helen even had a manuscript of her own, "The Madness of Moose and Mosquitoes," ready to stage for the first time. Then there was the West Carleton School of Performing Arts, led by Melissa Demers, agreeing to bring its talented youth to the stage. Promotion and marketing were expertly done by amateurs unwilling to take no for an answer, sets were made to fit with the stage, the stage itself was built, the meeting room converted to a theatre house, lights and draperies were borrowed or rented. Then came the premiere. West Carleton raised the curtain on its first of many variety shows.

"We were packed. We ran out of chairs on closing night," Martin said. "That's when we said, uh-ho, we have a problem here. We have to keep this going now."

Rural Root – the name Helen came up with when she started thinking about their country setting and traditions and growth of the group – has put on two productions a year since then, often staging unpretentious works by playwrights such as Norm Foster.

It quickly outgrew the client centre location as well, opting to accept an offer to stage their productions at the Constance and Buckham's Bay Community Centre, on Len Purcell Drive.

"It's really worked out well for us there, most of the members are from there now," Helen said. But the audiences are still from all over West Carleton.

While getting audience members to come hasn't been an issue, getting male actors has recently become one. "We understand that younger men are busy with work and family and all that. But once you get involved, you'll make time for this," Helen said. "We find men come to help out with the lights, the sound or set design, and they are amazed at how it all comes together in three months. It's magical, it really is." Martin says you learn a lot about yourself by being someone else. It is also a great confidence booster. And the rehearsal process is so thorough that no one ends up with stage fright. "If you ever need to make presentation at meetings or anything, acting is great for your self confidence. And it's not like you have to learn your lines in one night." They managed to convince at least one new male to this spring's production. Councillor Eli El-Chantiry has agreed to make a cameo for one of the productions. "Bull in a China Shop" will appear April 29 to May 2, 8 p.m., at the Constance and Buckham's Bay Community Centre. Tickets are $12; $15 for Friday and Saturday nights. To reserve tickets call 613.832.1070 or log onto www.ruralroot.org.