What are the holidays without a little bit of family drama? If you’re in the mood for some awkward holiday dinners, the Ottawa Little Theatre (OLT) is performing On the Farce Day of Christmas from Dec. 4–21.
Wendy, played by Amy Kennedy, pays her ex to pose as her husband so that her super religious mother doesn’t suspect her divorce.
“Parent dynamics can sometimes make things a little interesting, and we all feel like we have to live to a certain expectation,” says Kennedy. “I think that’s a big part of the base plot of this show and how that can make things rather interesting and fun at the same time.”
Scene from On the Farce Day of Christmas. Photo provided.
Kennedy has been with the OLT since 1996, and has performed in a variety of different roles. She’s been in both more traditional, period pieces, as well as non-period pieces — and has even acted in another one of OLT’s Christmas plays, Miracle on 34th Street back in 2022.
Kennedy says that while the OLT puts on great shows all year round, it’s the Christmas spirit that can make the experience extra special.
“In a Christmas show at the Ottawa Little Theatre, obviously, it’s Christmas, so there is that heightened joy that comes along with it,” she says. “OLT does do some different things for the audience to make it just that more special — we have hot chocolate in the lobby, we do special Christmas cocktails for the bar and we decorate the lobby.”
Along with providing a variety of programming, the OLT is a volunteer-run organization, and has been for quite some time.
“OLT is the longest running volunteer theatre in the country — I believe this is our 111th season,” says Kennedy. “We are all volunteers, so everyone’s there to make it as fun but as quality of a production as possible. We’re very lucky at OLT to have the space that we have.”
Scene from On the Farce Day of Christmas. Photo provided.
Kennedy also says that while having the facilities to actually present a certain caliber of production is necessary, it also helps to foster community, where people quickly develop close relationships.
That tight-knit, family feeling is palpable with cast and crew members who maintain that community. However, Kennedy might have more personal connection in this show than most.
“I also, full disclosure, feel a little extra like family, because the director is my stepmother and the gentleman playing my dad is my dad! That has definitely been an added bonus.”
Scene from On the Farce Day of Christmas. Photo provided.
Kennedy hopes that when audiences come to see the show, it will remind them of the importance of family, but also the complications that come with them.
“There’s a lot of honesty in relating to family.” she says. “We all have issues with family members, but at the end of the day, it really is about family — whatever it looks like. That’s the biggest thing.”
On the Farce Day of Christmas is performing at the Ottawa Little Theatre from Dec. 4-21. Showtimes are at 7:30pm Wednesdays through Saturdays, and matinees on Sundays. You can grab your tickets online, or through the box office at 613-233-8948. For more information about the performance, you can visit the Ottawa Little Theatre’s website.
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