encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights Hansel & Gretel – The Sweet & Sticky Panto at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, Boreal’s “Songs for the Snowy Season” concert at Bancroft Village Playhouse, the Colin James Trio in concert at Showplace, the screening of We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes at Lakefield College School’s Bryan Jones Theatre, Hawksley Workman in concert at Market Hall, and the stage musical version of A Christmas Story at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre.
Naughty or nice, Capitol Theatre’s holiday panto sure to delight
Rob Kempson is creatively silly and, much to the benefit of Capitol Theatre audiences, that’s a very good thing.
As artistic director of the Port Hope performing arts venue, Kempson remains a breath of fresh air, bringing his imaginative flair to bear on any stage production he has a direct hand in. At no time of year is that more evident than during the lead-up to Christmas when the Capitol presents its annual and much-loved holiday season panto.
On Friday, November 21, Hansel & Gretel – The Sticky & Sweet Panto will debut, with both “nice” and “naughty” versions staged over the following weeks until December 28. As writer and director, Kempson’s fingerprints are all over this one, ensuring smiles and laughter will abound, both on stage and in the audience. Kempson wouldn’t have it any other way.
Portraying the title characters are acclaimed stage veterans Amir Haidar and Michelle Yu. This isn’t their first Capitol Theatre rodeo. Back in 2023, they appeared together in Little Shop of Horrors. For Haidar, this musical comedy marks his fourth Capitol Theatre production; for Yu, this is her third go-round at the Queen Street venue.
Featuring musical arrangements by Jeff Newberry and music direction by Scott Pietrangelo, the story you know, or at least are somewhat familiar with. Hansel and Gretel are siblings who, abandoned in the woods, fall prey to a nasty witch who calls a gingerbread house home. Their adventure is the basis for the story beloved by generations since the German fairy tale was first collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 as part of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
A panto — short for pantomime — is a form of musical comedy that originated in 18th-century England, where it continues to be popular holiday theatre fare. Based on a well-known fairy tale, with a story adapted for a broader audience, key elements of a panto are audience participation, slapstick comedy, theatrical cross dressing, and music and dancing. In short, the perfect fit for Kempson’s playful silliness.
The “nice” version, for ages 8 and up, has matinee performances at 2 p.m. on November 22 and 23, 30, December 6 and 7, 13 and 14, 20, 23, 27 and 28, with an additional matinee performance at 3 p.m. on November 29, and morning performances at 10:30 a.m. on November 26 and December 3, 10, and 17.
The “naughty” version, for ages 16 and up, runs at 7:30 p.m. from November 21 to 27, November 29 and 30, December 3 to 7, 10 to 14, 17 to 20, 22 and 23, and 26 to 28, with an additional evening performance at 8 p.m. on November 28, and matinee performances at 2 p.m. on December 16 and 18.
Tickets are $48 for adults over 30, $40 for youth and adults ages 13 to 30, and $22 for children 12 and under. Visit capitoltheatre.com to order.
Boreal brings their acclaimed “Songs for the Snowy Season” show to the Bancroft Village Playhouse
VIDEO: “Shepherd of the Road” – Boreal
Three award-winning Canadian singer-songwriters will be bringing their acclaimed holiday show to the Bancroft Village Playhouse for one night only on Friday (November 21).
Boreal first came together in 2006 when Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, and Jude Vadala — each with their own longstanding and award-winning careers — decided to join together for a winter-themed show called “Songs for the Snowy Season.”
That show quickly became an annual touring tradition across Ontario, and eventually led to the trio’s 2014 debut album, Winter’s Welcome. When Vadala retired from the trio in 2019, Angie Nussey took her place. In 2025, Boreal released their second album Winterbirds, which has since been nominated for three 2026 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
With Wheatley performing on guitar, Slimmon on percussion, mandolin, and guitar, and Vadala on keyboards, all three women equally share singing duties, taking advantage of the unique timbre of their voices when writing and arranging their songs.
The trio’s songwriting and vocal prowess, including spellbinding harmonies, combined with the humour and honest storytelling in their live shows, has drawn high praise from Juno award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter David Francey.
“I’ll give you three good reasons for catching Boreal in concert,” Francey said. “There are three wonderful writers in this band, and three beautiful voices. That’s two reasons. The third is the magic that happens when these three women combine those wonderful songs and voices on stage. Each brings their own brilliance to the whole. Magical’s the word. I was transported.”
Tickets to the Bancroft Village Playhouse concert cost $30 and are available at www.villageplayhouse.ca.
Blues rocker Colin James fronts his trio for Showplace visit
VIDEO: “Open Road” – Colin James
It’s not every day that an eight-time Juno Award recipient comes our way, so it’s well worth noting when a musician of such stature does just that.
Since embarking on his journey in 1983 when he opened for Stevie Ray Vaughan, Regina-born Colin James has established himself as arguably Canada’s preeminent blues rock singer and songwriter.
Along with all those Juno statues, James has taken home an astounding 31 Maple Blues Awards, and reaped the rewards that recording seven gold-certified and four platinum-certified albums brings.
James’ most current album, 2024’s Chasing The Sun, co-produced by Colin Linden, marked his 18th studio offering. Over the years, he has worked with a number of celebrated artists — an impressive list that includes Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy, and the late Jeff Healey. All this years on, he’s showing no sign of slowing down.
On Tuesday, November 25 at Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough, the Colin James Trio will see him joined by guitarist Chris Caddell and bassist Steve Marriner. They’ll run through James’ material, including 1990’s “Just Came Back,” which remains his highest-charting Canadian and American single.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. concert cost $55 at showplace.org.
Ontario’s Farmerettes get their due via documentary screening
VIDEO: “We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes” trailer
The best thing about a forgotten story is the prospect of it being discovered and given its due.
In the summer of 2024, Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre presented the world premiere of Onion Skins & Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes. Written by Alison Lawrence based on the book by Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter, it related the story of the 40,000 teenage girls who volunteered on Canadian farms during, and after, World War II and thus helped sustain the nation’s food supply while young Canadian men, who worked the farms, were fighting overseas.
On Wednesday, November 26 at Lakefield College School’s Bryan Jones Theatre, that inspiring story will be shared again — this time on film.
We Lend A Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes is an award-winning documentary that comes to us from filmmakers Colin Field and Bonnie Sitter. Following the screening, the pair will sit down for a Q and A session, joined by 4th Line Theatre managing artistic director Kim Blackwell. There will also be an opportunity purchase signed copies of English and Sitter’s book Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario’s Farmerettes.
If you attended the 4th Line Theatre production and have a yearning to learn more about this relatively unknown chapter of Canadian history, this event is for you. If you’re not familiar with the story at all, this is a great opportunity to come up to speed.
Tickets to the 7 p.m. screening cost $25, and are available at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca. A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to 4th Line Theatres’s 30 to the Future Endowment Fund and to the Lakefield College Northcote Farm Endowment. In addition, a collection will be taken for those displaced by the October 9 fire in downtown Lakefield.
Hawksley Workman is right at home for Market Hall concert
VIDEO: “Human” – Hawksley Workman
There’s nothing like a short commute to work.
Canadian rock singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman has performed at prestigious venues, Toronto’s historic Massey Hall just one on a long list. But, as a Peterborough resident since 2020, there’s something no doubt something very enticing about headlining a concert just a hop, skip and step away in the city’s downtown core.
So it is that that the singer-songwriter and accomplished multi-instrumentalist will perform as a duo with keyboardist Todd Lumley at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, November 27.
With 17 solo albums to his credit, the Juno award-winning Workman has long garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. Since his 1999 ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls, Workman has consistently delivered, bringing his music around the globe to the tune of more than 1,000 shows.
In a March 2020 interview with kawarthaNOW, Workman said he sensed Peterborough was “in transition,” adding, “In a lot of the cities and towns this size in Canada, manufacturing has moved on and they’re sort of redefining themselves. I feel like a strong downtown is still an essential part of the heart of a city.”
Amen to that, and kudos to Workman for backing that up with a hometown performance.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. concert cost $54 ($64 for cabaret seating) at www.markethall.org.
Ralphie’s quest for that Red Ryder air rifle comes to Lindsay
VIDEO: “A Christmas Story” movie trailer (1983)
On the Rellingers’ list of favourite holiday films, A Christmas Story holds a perennial place. There’s something infinitely captivating about young Ralphie Parker and his no-holds-barred desire for a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle as a gift from Santa.
Set in 1940s Indiana, the 1983 film, based on the book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash and featuring a memorable performance by Darren McGavin as Ralphie’s dad, was actually partly filmed in Canada and earned two Genie Awards as result.
A Christmas Story, of course, earned a stage treatment, which came in the form of A Christmas Story: The Musical. It debuted at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre in Missouri in 2009 and later enjoyed a short run on Broadway in 2012.
From November 28 to 30, Lindsay’s Academy Theatre is presenting the musical with an all-local cast and crew. Directed by Beth Wilson, Jace Jolicoeur plays Ralphie, with supporting roles played by Tim Brown, Matt Avery, Tara Restrepo, and Jude Collver.
If you love the movie, as I do, you’re sure to enjoy this stage take.
Curtain is 7 p.m. on November 28 and 29, with 2 p.m. matinees on November 29 and 30. Tickets cost $37 for adults and $27 for kids 12 and under and are available at www.flatoacademytheatre.com.
Encore
- I’m delighted to see that super local music fan Les Manley is again organizing Musicians’ Appreciation Night. Set for December 4 at The Social, the love-in, which was first held last year, has at its root a simple premise: an opportunity to thank local musicians for the gifts of their talent and, in the case of many charitable efforts, their time. The 7 to 11 p.m. event will feature music by Bitchin’ Betties, an all-female band comprised of some incredible talent. Manley pays all the associated costs, so there are two things to do here: go and show your love for local musicians, and donate a few bucks to offset Manley’s costs. This is a great gesture. I went last year and the smiles on the faces of those feted lit up the room. Well done, Les.
- The apple really doesn’t far fall from the tree. Joanna Bronson, the daughter of Peterborough music treasure Danny Bronson, has just released her debut single “Highway 28.” Produced by J.P Cormier, the inspiration for the song came to Joanna as she drove along — you guessed it — Highway 28. She posted on Facebook that it’s “a reflection of love and life and how both move on and change in ways you never really expect. Then looking back and wishing the past well.” Joanna and Danny performed together this past March at Peterborough Performs VI and were outstanding. No real surprise there, but a treat for anyone who took in the show. Give “Highway 28” a listen below. You won’t be at all disappointed.
AUDIO: “Highway 28” – Joanna Bronson
