What could 69-year-old retired public relations practitioner Susan (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?
Both live in Almonte, for one. And both will take to the stage for two shows (2pm and 7:30pm) 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 her “seniority”, this will be Susan Macaulay’s first time on stage (as a community theatre publicist, she’s 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 21. 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,” adds 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 Susan are just two of a dozen acts in what promises to be a truly varied and wonderfully entertaining 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 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 choir does not usually perform in public. They’re making an exception for the Puppets Up! Chautauqua.
Darren Brocklehurst, who played Bennett Rosamond in Spinning Yarns: The Millworkers’ Musical, as well as Dorothy’s father in The Wizard is Odd…?, is trading harmonies for punchlines in his stand-up comedy début. 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 wacky in their own rights, and will undoubtedly deliver triple the trouble when teamed up. Hilarity will surely ensue.
Speaking of funny, stand-up comic Bobby Knauff and his puppet sidekick Andre the Alien are guaranteed to keep you in stitches. Bobby has performed on The Fresh Meat Showcase at The Second City, at the North by NorthEast Music & Comedy Fest, was a semi-finalist in SiriusXM Canada’s Next Top Comic, won the 2012 Toronto Comedy Brawl, has had numerous appearances on Much Music and MTV Canada, and has toured across Canada headlining with Yuk Yuks.
Actor, singer/songwriter and playwright Kelly Torck will sing on her own (accompanying herself on keyboard), as well as being 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.
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.
Last, but certainly not least, twenty-one-year-old puppeteer Liam Prince will travel from London, ON, to perform in Almonte on November 15. Liam fell in love with puppets at the age of six; he began making his own at 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 2024 Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival.
Both shows 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. Tickets are only $25 plus fees at TicketsPlease.ca or 485–6434. Come on out, support terrific performers in your community, and help raise money for two great causes!
