‘Delightfully whimsical for the children and the young at heart. A smile-inducing performance all round thanks to the energetic cast.”
Yes, even Senior Citizens like me can still be touched by the young at heart and the hearts of young children who come to the theatre.
Monsters & Milfoil, a delightfully whimsical local Port Perry story, has been entertaining children and families all summer. It has been playing under the tent at the Scugog Shores Museum grounds for a couple of years, but I never got the chance to see it.
This year, I didn’t want to miss it.
Directed with a childlike heart by Michael Williamson, ‘Monsters’ follows the story narrator Ella (Una Roulston) who breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the audience about her life growing up in Port Perry. She happily spends her summers around Lake Scugog. One day she meets her friend, Sam (Judah Parris) who is bored out of his mind and just hankering to do something. Ella has an idea – why not go down to Lake Scugog, go on an exploration in the bushes around Lake Scugog and see what’s going on.
Sam n Ella (get it? The play on words? It pops back later in the show) go down to the lake. Along the way, the two of them break the fourth wall and talk to the kids in the audience and invite them to take part in some of the activities on stage. At this performance, the smiles on the wee ones’ faces were adorable. The actors inherently knew to get down to the level of the children to speak with them, but not to get too close to them and make them uncomfortable.
Monsters features songs and activities about the importance of cleaning up Lake Scugog to ensure the waters will be around for everyone to enjoy years from now. Sam n Ella are visited by Heron (Megan Adam) and Fish (Emmet Logue) as they begin to learn about the importance of the preservation of the water and the surrounding environment. Legend has it that because Lake Scugog’s waters are not the cleanest right now, a monster by the name of Scugie (Logue) spews ugly green foam on the water to make it unsafe for swimming and boating. Sam n Ella and the creatures set out on the task to ensure Lake Scugog is free from the clutches of Scugie and that everyone has a part to share in keeping the lake clean for all.
It’s a half theatre in the round setting. The front of the stage is adorned with palm fronds and weeds.The energetic four-member cast is lovely. They’re not afraid or shy at all in dancing, moving, jiving and grooving with the wee ones during the show. Michael Williamson’s songs are tunefully delightful to entertain children and keep their interest in the show. Sound balance is excellent as there’s a good balance between musical instruments and the singers.
Monsters & Milfoil is just about over. Two performances remain.
If you have little ones and are looking for something to do with the kids, head over to Scugog Shores Museum for an entertaining hour of family fun.
Running time: approximately one hour.
The production runs August 20 and 23 at the Scugog Shores Museum, 16210 Island Road, Port Perry. For tickets: theatreontheridge.ca.
THEATRE ON THE RIDGE presents
MONSTERS & MILFOIL: A Tale of Lake Scugog
Adapted from the original production created by artists of the company
Directed by Michael Williamson
With the artists of the Theatre on the Ridge 2025 oRidginator Lab.
Set Design: Ari Leroux and Company
Music, Lighting and Sound Designs by Michael Williamson
Puppetry by Susan Robinson
Costumes: Carey Nicholson (Scugie’s costume) and company
Stage Manager: Joanne Norman
Performers: Judah Parris, Una Roulston, Megan Adam, Emmet Logue
