The Bienfait Lions Community Theatre returned this past weekend after a one-year hiatus, and this year’s show was done in honour of the man who played such a key role in initiating the theatre years ago.
Large crowds gathered in Bienfait Weldon School’s gymnasium from Nov. 23-25 to watch the performance of New Kid on the Block. The shows on Nov. 23 and 24 were dinner theatres, while the one on Nov. 25 was a dessert theatre.
People laughed at the story performed on the stage, but many of them also cried during the tributes to Dwight Thompson, who died early this year at the age of 55.
Bienfait Lions Club president Marion Harper was very happy with this year’s production, and with the tribute they were able to have in honour of Thompson.
“The play was very good,” said Harper. “The actors did a very good job. I thought it was wonderful.”
New Kid on the Block tells the story of three elderly men who live together, but are looking for a roommate. They believe they have found one when someone named Will calls, but they are shocked to find out that Will is a woman.
Most of the performers in this year’s cast have been part of previous shows, but they did have a couple of new additions.
Harper stressed that it takes a lot of time to make the community theatre happen each year. The actors start learning their lines two months in advance, and it also takes time to print and sell tickets, contact people, determine the menus, collect all of the money and do other work.
They were close to capacity for each of the performances.
A lot of businesses and volunteers contributed to the success of the event.
“That’s they only way you can make things happen,” she said.
During the intermission on Nov. 23 and 24, and prior to the performance on Nov. 25, there were tributes to Thompson. Director Paula Lainton and master of ceremonies Paul Carroll, who is also Bienfait’s mayor, offered their memories of Thompson.
Lainton said this year’s theatre was presented with mixed emotions because Thompson wasn’t there. She described Thompson as the “driving force behind the event,” and so it was fitting to have a tribute.
She recalled the first show in 2004, when the community theatre made its debut with I’ll Get my Man.
“What followed, to the delight of hundreds of people each year, was 12 more consecutive years of comedy productions. And for each of those productions, Dwight was the backbone, making sure that all aspects of the weekend were tended to, and that was in addition to learning his lines, and delivering them with his own style and pizzazz,” said Lainton.
Carroll noted that Thompson’s involvements extended beyond the community theatre. After moving to Bienfait, he became active in the town. He started selling Christmas trees for the Lions Club before he was even a member of the club. He served community through his church, the Bienfait branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Bienfait Curling Club, Bienfait Town Council, the town’s parks, the Canada Day celebrations and the town’s museum.
He was also instrumental in the purchase of a new fire truck a few years ago.
“On council, he was our liaison to the fire department, and for his efforts there, he was awarded an honourary membership designation by the fire department,” said Carroll.
Then a five-minute video, created by Lainton and her son James, was shown that celebrated Thompson’s dedication to the community and replayed some of his most memorable moments in the theatre.
There were also posters from past shows on the walls of the gymnasium, and Lainton encouraged people to look at them and remember the different characters Thompson has portrayed.
While there wasn’t a theatre last year, plans were already in the works this year to have a theatre when Thompson died, and Lainton said the Lions hope to continue his legacy for many more years.
Harper echoed Lainton’s confidence about the future of the community theatre, but she recognizes that each year poses different situations that will ultimately factor into their decision on whether to proceed.
Last year, when they didn’t have a theatre, it was due to the time commitment associated with the production, and the need for a break for many of the performers.
Proceeds from the community theatre will be directed to projects in the community. Harper said they don’t have a tally for how much money was raised.
“That will take a couple of weeks, because we have to have all the bills come in,” said Harper.
The Lions like to support different organizations in the community each year.
