‘With This Ring’ offers snippets of local history
Lisa Timpf
Advocate Contributor
Step back in time at Lynnwood Arts’ play, set in 1902
If you’ve ever wanted to go back in time to see what life was like a few decades ago, Lynnwood Arts has you covered.
Lynnwood may not have a time machine, but they have the next best thing: an immersive 90-minute play that will spirit attendees back to 1902. Titled ‘With this Ring,’ the play was written by Jan Rainey and Melissa Collver, with Rainey also serving as the play’s director.
With This Ring centres on the wedding of Duncan Frederick Campbell, grandson of Duncan Campbell. Duncan Campbell served as Simcoe’s first Postmaster, and had Lynnwood built in 1850-1851 as his home.
Attendees at the play will travel from room to room at Lynnwood, getting a sense of what was going on at the house at the time of the wedding. Actors will portray action and conversation featuring the aunts on both sides of the wedding, gentlemen from the immediate family, the wedding party, the wedding itself, and the servants’ kitchen.
Guides will escort each group attending the event through the house, letting them know when it’s time to move on to the next location.
It’s the third year that Lynnwood has put on a play of this nature, with parts one and two of The Governor’s Visit having taken place in prior years. Like The Governor’s Visit, With This Ring is based on actual events.
Actors will wear costumes authentic for the time period, with some of the attire borrowed from Lighthouse Festival and Simcoe Little Theatre, and some available from materials Lynnwood has on hand. Rainey, who is gallery assistant and volunteer coordinator at Lynnwood, expressed Lynnwood’s gratitude for the loan of costumes.
In all, 55 performers will be involved. Most hail from Norfolk County, though some of the roles will be portrayed by actors from Brant and Haldimand.
Writing the play involved extensive research into archival materials as well as referencing books written about Norfolk County. Rainey noted that co-playwright Melissa Collver’s extensive knowledge of local history made an important contribution to the project.
With This Ring will be performed November 12, 13, 14, and 15 at Lynnwood Arts. Showtimes for each night of the performance are at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Though the entire event spans 90 minutes for any given group, the fact that the experience involves moving from room to room makes it possible for new groups to start the event at half-hour intervals.
Each start time will be limited to 23 people. Rainey notes that the 7:30 time slots on each night will be accessible, with an elevator available so those with mobility issues can get to the building’s upper floor.
“Anyone who enjoyed The Governor’s Visit should enjoy this play,” says Rainey, adding that With This Ring is the year’s major fundraiser for the art gallery.
The play will include “music, comedy, and nostalgia,” says Rainey. Two small choirs, one adult choir and one children’s choir, will perform. The children’s choir will perform at the start of the play, with the adult choir being part of the wedding.
Ticket cost is $40 plus tax per person. Tickets must be pre-ordered, and will not be available at the door.
Some sittings of the play were sold out last year, and sales for this year’s event have already begun, so Rainey advises those interested to get their tickets early.
Lynnwood’s website advises attendees to park in the Riversyde 83 parking lot (83 Sydenham St., Simcoe), and to arrive 15 minutes prior to their seating time. The Lynnwood Arts building (21 Lynnwood Ave.) can be entered by heading up the driveway directly north of the building and going into the carriage house at the end of the driveway, where the play will begin.
More information about ticket ordering and about the event itself are available at www.lynnwoodarts.ca.
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