OAP Community Theatre’s Whimsy State production tells (mostly) true story of a fishermen-built micro-nation

(Left to right) Aaron Gorlick, Joanna Sweete, and Lionel Santos. (Alex Bish photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

A group of fishermen creating their own micro-nation is part of our Canadian History, and One Act Players (OAP) Community Theatre will bring it to life later this March.

OAP Community Theatre will present Whimsy State (or the Principality of Outer Baldonia) on March 27 and 28 at St. David’s United Church. Whimsy State by Canadian Playwright A.J. Demers is based on a now-defunct micro-nation, The Principality of Outer Baldonia, formed by Russell M. Arundel, a fisherman, a lawyer, and a chairman of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Long Island, NY.

"It's kind of a bizarre story and the other thing is this is the first time I've come across something that I would call a historical comedy. It's based on fact and it's a funny play,” said director Ted McLauchlin.

In 1948, Arundel purchased four acres of Outer Bald Tusket Island, near Nova Scotia’s Southernmost corner, for $750. He then created a stone building for himself and his friends called “The Royal Palace.” He created the Declaration of Independence of Outer Baldonia with his fellow fishermen Ron Wallace and Elson Bordeau during a night of rum-drinking.

“The motivation at the time was based around the fact that at the time, the Canadian government was opening up fishing rights to other countries in and around the Bay of Fundy area and where Blue Fin tuna, which was the prize at the time, was quite abundant and these guys decided by becoming their own micro-nation, they could control the fishing around that island,” said McLauchlin.

“That was the motivation, but they went off the rails, and it became a little bit of a joke where they created their own coat of arms, their own money and their own charter of rights and freedoms.”

The Declaration of Independence of Outer Baldonia can still be found in the Yarmouth County Museum. All of the actors performing in Whimsy State have lots of experience in theatre.

“These are all actors who have spent years on the stage, so I'm happy for that and it's a challenging play to put on,” McLauchlin said. “There are 18 scenes in the play, so it's a lot of movement. It's a lot of area that we're covering to depict all of these things, but they're coming along really well. They're having a good time."

Performances will be held on Friday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. An adjudicator from the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) is evaluating the performance on opening night and providing feedback after the show. Demers, the playwright of Whimsy State, will also be in attendance.

“This is the first time a lot of them have ever got to perform for the actual playwright,” McLauchlin said of the cast. “We invited him, not really thinking he’d accept that invitation, but low and behold, he is coming, and it’s on the night that the play is being adjudicated, so you know, no pressure, right? But they’re excited about it. It’ll be a great performance.”

Tickets can be purchased at Carman’s Photo Source in Woodstock’s Springbank Plaza or online via https://www.oapcommunitytheatre.com.