The Motley Theatre - be taken for a ride - you will love it.

Historically, the first event that kicks off the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 2 1/2 week party of arts events, is The Motley Theatre. This is a play reading, and if you have never been to one, boy you have missed something.

This is exactly as you think it would be with a word like "play reading". The actors on the stage actually "read" the play, with scripts in hand and all. I know, you think how boring that must be but it is FAR from boring. It takes only a few minutes from the beginning of the reading to absolutely forget that the actors have books in their hands and they are reading the lines. You become so engrossed in the pace of the performance, the tempo of the lines being delivered, the voice dynamics, the facial expressions and the great way that all lines float around you to embrace you in the story. I am not kidding, it is really like that.

We are quite blessed to have the very talented Anna MacKay-Smith (well known not only as an actor, but as a director and teacher) lead this play reading over the last number of years, and Uxbridge has seen great and well known Canadian actors participate. The likes of Gordon Pinsent, Rachel McAdams, Barbara Budd, Rosemary Dunsmore, Paul Gross and Ken Welsh have graced the stage.

What is going to be read this year? Well, I don't know. Who will be reading this year? Well, I don't know that either. Will it be the best way to kick off the 25th Anniversary of The Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts. OH YA!!!!!

Mark your calendar for The Motley Theatre on Thursday, September 16th, at 8pm at the Uxbridge Music Hall.

This is truly a Motley Crew - as seen every year

One of the joys of a small-town and local celebration are the wonderful surprises that happen - such as it is NEVER small-town entertainment - only the best. And Motley Theatre group is one of those things. This is a "play reading" of a very small 2 - 5 hander, and it is brilliant. Sure the actors have the script in their hand but never, NEVER would you suspect that they are just reading it. Wow - they are truly performing it, even with a very minimal amount of props.

This is what has happened over the last number of years led by two very powerful performers; Anna MacKay-Smith and Kenneth Welsh. Two well known and respected Canadian actors whom just happen to live/lived in the Uxbridge township area and continue to give back.

This past year's performance was of Neil Simon's "The Gingerbread Lady" and it was BRILLIANT. Drama in the right placed; laughed at the right places; groaned at the right places and our hearts melted at the right places. What a wonderful night out.

Also Anna MacKay-Smith kindly hosted an "acting workshop" for some of the local teenage budding performers, and what an experience that was.

Will it happen again? Well, it is our 25th anniversary and so I would expect we will be getting ready for make it an event to remember for a very long time. Sure everyone says that to get people to come out - but YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED and if you are, come find me and I will personally, mmmmm, I don't know - clean your car???