Samuel Benefit a Success

The sold out performance of Desperately Seeking Samuel was a success. The production raised $800 for the Champlain Elementary School breakfast and lunch programme. The cheque will be presented to the school at the end of month at the school assembly by request of the principal, Jan Ross.

Paul Rapsey performed both the role of Samuel in the main play and of Marianna in the Epilogue. The powerful Epilogue was not in the film version. Audience members who had already seen the film, repeatedly said how different the play was from the film version. It had more energy and less darkness. Paul says that is because an actor feeds off an audience. An actor cannot do that in a film.

In his brief introduction, Paul said the play was not a linear one. He described it as like a slow paced road trip of discovery. It starts off in the early morning darkness. Sometimes the road is smooth and straight. Sometimes one is dodging potholes. There are curves and bends. Sometimes the scenery is stunning, sometimes dull. Here and there they may be a construction delay and detour on gravel roads. Perhaps the GPS, or the navigator in the passenger seat, tells the driver to turn left, instead of right; so there is some back tracking to do. At the end of the day one arrives at the destination with a little bit of sunshine.

Paul says that independent theatre operating with no funding and no budget very much depends on the goodwill of the community it supports. The recent Benefit Performance would not have been such a success without it.

In particular, he thanks Holly at the Mad Hatter Bookstore in Annapolis Royal for selling the tickets for this and his previous productions. He offers thanks also to Lewis at The Reader in Bridgetown for running, in two consecutive editions, both an announcement and a prominently placed advertisement for the play. And he also gives thanks to the local NSLC, Arch n Po Bakery, Sissiboo Cafe, the Annapolis Brew Pub and the Mad Hatter Wine Bar for putting up posters.

He says that we are so fortunate in this province to have the small local community Halls, run and managed by countless volunteers. These provide a valuable venue for public meetings, a variety of community social events, markets, theatrical productions, music, and film.

We are richer for them.

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Lighthouse Benefit a Huge Success

Congratulations to all who made the Schafner Point Lighthouse Benefit on Saturday evening an overwhelming success. The sold out crowd of over 70 enthusiastic people enjoyed an evening of spectacular entertainment by fiddler Steve Klein and actor Paul Rapsey. Steve played brilliantly throughout the evening. The audience engaged in energetic hand clapping and foot stomping to his music. Paul’s monologue was sprinkled with both delightful laughter and pin dropping silence from the audience, culminating in a prolonged and spontaneous standing ovation. The many volunteers of the Port Royal Lighthouse Association and of the Lower Granville Hall were the backbone of the evening. Bravo! Steve will be playing his fiddle again on Saturday, March 18 at the Granville Ferry Community Hall in the village starting at 7:00 p.m. He will be joined by Scott Henderson on pipes and flute. There are no tickets, but admission will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Doors open at 6:30. Entry fee is $1

Launch of Five Monologues a Success

Thank you to Holly Sanford and the Mad Hatter Bookstore and Wine Bar for hosting the book launch yesterday of Paul Rapsey's "Five Monologues" book. The packed room was treated to a selection of "readings", actually of recitals by Paul, of a section from each of the five plays. The audience was thoroughly engaged and gave Paul an enthusiastic reception. There was some concern that people would not be as interested in the launch of a book of plays as they had been for the launch two months ago of Paul's novel, "Murder on the Pony Express Way". However, this concern proved unfounded. The space was packed to overflowing. One person wrote of the event: " This was the best reading from a book launch I’ve ever attended. The difference, of course, is that Paul knew the material so well that he didn’t just read, but he acted wonderfully. What a delightful way to spend an hour. "

Fiddelity Screening to be held in Cobourg

A screening of the film "Fiddelity" is to take place at the Loft Cinema in Cobourg, Ontario on Tuesday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m. The three actors, now living in Nova Scotia, coincidently all have a long and strong connexion with this lovely town on Lake Ontario. Seating in this small theatre is restricted to 18 people by reason of Covid-19. The show, which was by open invitation, has quickly sold out and there is a waiting list pending any cancellations. Admission is by Goodwill offering to the local Food Bank. I have performed two shows in this lovely 50-seat theatre: Alan Bennett's "Bed Among the Lentils",. and Micheal macLiammoire's "The Importance of Being Oscar". Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this event.

One Actor - Another Show

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