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Once Upon a Rocking Chair: A Play in Two Acts

A Métis family, the De La Roche women have an annual summer Georgian Bay tradition. Three retired sisters and their three grown daughters spend a week at the cottage drinking wine, reminiscing, and making plans for the future. But this summer is different. Deep-rooted secrets are revealed as the annual festivities become ones that nobody will ever forget. It is a play about family, relationships, work, aging, life, and the validity of ‘happily-ever-after.’

The script is available at the Canadian Play Outlet. It is also in the Pledge Project database.


About the Play

Characters:

THE MOTHERS (Sisters)

EMMA 50s, Rebecca’s mother

SUE 60s, Chelsea’s mother

VERONICA 50s, Tina’s mother

THE DAUGHTERS (Cousins)

REBECCA 20s

CHELSEA 30s

TINA 30s, pregnant


First Produced:

StoneCircle Theatre stage in Ajax, Ontario by Ken Bond in February 2008

Notes:

Originally written in 2008. Rewritten in 2016.

Once Upon a Rocking Chair was first produced on the StoneCircle Theatre stage in Ajax, Ontario by Ken Bond in February 2008. It was directed by Jessica Outram. The set design was by Steve Neving and the stage manager was Dave Edwards. The cast was as follows:

EMMA………………………………….……….Patty Seaton

SUE………………………………………………Fran Stecyk

VERONICA………………………………..….Nancy Palumbo

REBECCA………………………………..……Kristina Maharaj

CHELSEA………………………………………Alyssa Mariano

TINA………………………………………………Melissa Sparacino

Casting suggestions: The mothers are sisters. The daughters could be more diverse as we don’t ever see their fathers.


In September 2014, VOS Theatre in Cobourg hosted a reading of the play at Victoria Hall, led by Bea Quarrie.

The script was substantially revised in June to October 2016.

In May/June 2017 the updated script was staged at The Fire Hall Theatre in Cobourg, ON with Northumberland Players.

Both the 2008 and 2017 productions were nearly sold out.


2017 Gallery: Northumberland Players


2008 Gallery: StoneCircle Theatre


My Family Who Inspired the Play

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