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5/13/13
When the courtroom is not their stage ...
When the courtroom is not their stage ...
BY CAROLINE PHILLIPS, OTTAWA CITIZEN
MAY 12, 2013
OTTAWA — The jury is back and the verdict is in: Ottawa lawyers delivered a praiseworthy and
polished performance on the opening night of their 14th annual fundraising play, The Best Man by
Gore Vidal.
The gala shows ran for three nights, beginning Thursday, at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre
and raised more than $100,000 for the Great Canadian Theatre Company and its 2013 charity
partner, the Youth Services Bureau.
The political satire, set in Philadelphia in 1960, is about two candidates vying for the presidential
nomination. Patrick Gauthier was back to direct a volunteer cast that’s come to hold him in high
regard.
“I think Patrick is one of the most talented young directors working in this city today,” Superior Court
Justice Colin McKinnon, who played former president Art Hockstader, told Around Town.
Come party time, Ashley Deathe of Nelligan O’Brien Payne was a brunette again after learning
blondes, even wigged ones, have more fun on stage. She played the Southern belle wife of candidate
Joseph Cantwell performed by Kirk Shannon, legal counsel for the Office of the Privacy
Commissioner. The role allowed Shannon to flex his acting muscles while putting his drama degree
from Queen’s University to charitable use.
His character’s rival, William Russell, was played by Ted Mann, who memorized his part months ago
(he rehearsed his lines while walking his dog).
The lawyer play committee was once again co-chaired by legal eagles and cast members Mitch
Charness and Carol Cochrane.
At the party were Coun. Katherine Hobbs and Superior Court Regional Senior Justice Charles
Hackland, who didn’t fret about flubbing their lines — they had non-speaking cameo roles.
A CENTURY OF
LITTLE THEATRE
Around Town arrived Thursday to the Château Laurier just as a vintage Rolls-Royce pulled up to the
historic hotel.
Out stepped Peter Fisher of the family-run E.R. Fisher Menswear with his wife, Edie, and their friend,
Naomi Fowlie. Her husband, Grant, owns the luxury car and did the chauffeuring.
“Can you think of a better way to come to a gala?” Fisher rhetorically asked Around Town before
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heading inside to the Ottawa Little Theatre’s 100th Birthday Gala. Some 260 people attended the
event, which featured a live band and a centennial gourmet menu.
Guests had the option of black-tie or theatrical. Jane Morris donned an elaborate costume from the
Eugene Onegin opera, bought by her auction-bidding husband, Bob Hicks, at a recent theatre festival
benefit.
Alumni included Luba Goy of Royal Canadian Air Farce fame. She got her start in community theatre
with OLT’s children productions of Alice in Wonderland and Rumpelstiltskin. “Those experiences of
going out and performing in front of kids gave me my theatrical sea legs, as it were,” said Goy, who
went on to study at Montreal’s National Theatre School.
OLT alumnus Raoul Bhaneja, a graduate of Canterbury High and the National Theatre School, was
seen catching up with such former mentors as Jim McNabb and Judy Kirsh. He was with his actress
wife, Birgitte Solem (they met in Ottawa through a Company of Fools).
Bhaneja is back in November to star in the production of Hamlet (Solo) at the NAC.
A BENEFIT WITH FRIENDS
The event is cheekily called Friends with Benefits but it’s really a benefit with friends.
The second annual fundraiser for the Jennie James Depression Research Fund took place Friday at
Lago Bar and Grill. It was founded and chaired by Laura Hammond in memory of her friend Jennie
James, 33, who took her life eight years ago following a depression relapse.
“On the surface it would be really hard to see why she had any issues at all,” Hammond said of
James, who had a vibrant personality and was bright and accomplished. “What many people don’t
know is you can appear ‘all together’ on the surface but have an unfortunate health issue that makes
it more difficult for the day to day.”
Still, people can lead a healthy and productive life after mental illness, stressed Hammond, who
finished university and pursued a career in human resources after getting proper treatment for her
recurrent depression.
Present were members of James’ family, including her father, Ben James. He established the research
fund in his daughter’s name through the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. Also seen were
some of James’ close friends, like Nicki Bridgland of major sponsor Ottawa Sport and Social Club. Kott
Group CEO Melissa Kruyne lent her support. Kruyne has been a champion of mental health
awareness with The Royal since James’ suicide.
Organizers hoped to surpass last year’s fundraising total of $12,000.
AUSTRIAN ENVOY SAYS
THANKS FOR THE DANCE
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The most memorable moment on the gala scene this past winter was that of couples waltzing to live
orchestral music in the National Gallery’s Great Hall, overlooking Parliament Hill.
It was the Viennese Opera Ball, a fairy tale evening of fine dining, dancing and opera singing that
emulates the famous balls held in Vienna.
“The Austrian Embassy is very proud of this event,” Austrian Ambassador Arno Riedel told guests at
a reception he and his wife, Loretta Loria-Riedel, hosted Tuesday in Rockcliffe for sponsors and
organizers.
The ball is a celebration of Austrian arts and culture, with a fundraising component. This year’s new
charities were the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation and Bruyère Continuing Care.
Five young musicians from the third beneficiary, OrKidstra, performed at the reception and delighted
everyone with the Russian folk tune Postcards From Russia.
On hand were Jim Hall, chair of the ball and president of Frequentis Canada, Linda Eagen from the
cancer foundation, Amy Desjardins from the Bruyère Foundation, and representatives from title
sponsor RBC.
Organizing committee member Emily Tolot attended with her husband, Edgewater Wireless CFO Sam
Sgabellone. He’s the volunteer treasurer for the ball. Other organizers included retired high-tech CEO
Don Smith, Liza Mrak from sponsor Mark Motors, Grant McDonald, managing partner of sponsor
KPMG, and Melissa Krulick and Dan Labelle from Ottawa’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio.
They teach the debutantes and cavaliers the traditional Austrian dance numbers performed on the
big night. The lessons make all the difference. “Especially with the guys,”said Krulick.
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