Sketches of Leacock
Adapted by Andy Massingham from the writings of
Stephen Leacock
Directed by Andy Massingham
August 5th – 23rd, 2026
The brilliant and satiric writing of Canada’s much beloved author and essayist Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) is the inspiration of this world premiere. In Sketches of Stephen Leacock, Andy Massingham brings together the myriads of eccentric characters Leacock became world-famous for.
Often called “Canada’s Mark Twain,” and lauded by
Groucho Marx as, “The funniest writer I have ever read”, Leacock wrote of thwarted love, bank managers, angry customers, nosy neighbours, love-struck kids (and NOT kids). They are all here for the fun and Leacock skewers them all wit his razor-sharp wit.
You will find yourself recognizing the same pitfalls and potholes which bedevil us all, as you stroll with us through Leacock’s fabled and imaginary town of Mariposa in an evening of laughter, music and celebration of one of Canada’s literary giants.
The Creatives
Andy Massingham is a Toronto-based Dora Mavor Moore and Prix Rideau Award-winning actor, director, teacher and playwright.
Andy has worked across Canada as an actor at such venues as the Stratford Festival, National Arts Centre, Theatre New Brunswick, the Banff Centre, Tarragon, Soulpepper,
and Young Peoples Theatre, among many others.
He is also a faculty member of the Toronto Film
School. This is Andy’s fifth season with Theatre on the Ridge.
Behind The Scenes
Suitable for ages 8+
Running time: approx. 90 minutes + intermission
Cast and Crew
Manon Bourgeois
Manon Bourgeois is a bilingual actor and multidisciplinary artist currently based in Toronto. She’s a graduate of TMU’s Performance Acting BFA, her practice is rooted in French-Canadian theatre and improv training, on-camera work, dance, circus arts, and visual arts. In addition to her work as an actor on stage and screen, she continues to develop her small business offering workshops, face painting, murals, and more. She is thrilled to be making her Theatre On The Ridge debut in “Sketches of Leacock” this summer!
Henry Oswald Peirson
Henry Oswald Peirson is a performer and director from Guelph, ON, joining for his fourth season at Theatre on the Ridge. He is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School and is currently studying sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University. In June, he directed the world premiere of the opera “Madame Caeneus’s Canteen” at the Open Ears Festival. Select credits: “Any Idiot Can Face a Crisis”, “Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]”, “Punch Up” (Theatre on the Ridge), “Lovesick Lambs of Lombardi” (Cooped Up with Tom), “Migraaaants” (2000FeetUp), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (White Horse Theatre), “Missing Links” (Theatre by the Bay).
Blake Pyne
Blake Pyne is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on acting, singing, musical theatre, and physical theatre performance from Swehl-tcha (Cultus Lake, B.C.). He is a graduate of the National Theatre School’s acting program. Selected theatre credits include “Abe” in the premier of 76-Centimeters by Xaiver Michael-Campbell, “Actor 3” In a workshop of DUCKS (Banff Centre), “Argonaut” in a production of Madea (Canadian Opera Company), “Caliban” in The Tempest, “Jess (Blake Pyne)” in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] (Again), “Valere” in Evan Mercer’s adaptation of Moliere’s The Flying Doctor (Perchance Theatre), “Pierre” in Cole Hayley’s There Is Nothing You Can Do (NTS) “The Baron Docteur” in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Venus (NTS), and “Hart” in Kevin Kerr’s Unity 1918 (C.S.O.P.A) where he won the award for Best Youth Actor in the Fraser Valley Zone Festival. Blake is excited to help bring this silly show to life!
Jenna Hsu
Jenna Hsu (she/her) is an artist born and raised in Regina and now resides in Toronto. Jenna trained post-secondary at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC, as well as at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, specializing in Jazz & Contemporary. She is excited to be making her Theatre on the Ridge debut in the beautiful town of Port Perry! Favourite past credits include: A Christmas Carol (Globe Theatre), We Will Rock You (Sask Express), and Disney Dreams (Disney Cruise Lines). Jenna is delighted to welcome you to the world of Sketches of Leacock, full of laughter, connection, and whimsy. Love to Mom, Dad, Teresa, and Joyce.
Jane Miller
Jane is an actor, musician and composer with credits at theatres across the country and Dora Award nominations in three different decades, most recently last season for Outstanding Ensemble in The Wolf in the Voice at Tarragon. She has crossed Canada with her solo show, Disco Goalie, to sold out houses and five-star reviews. Currently, Jane tours her newest solo show, These Are the Songs That I Sing When I’m Sad, (a joyous show about why we love sad music, created with Brian Quirt of Nightswimming Theatre), which will be at Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse this October.
Michael Williamson
Michael Williamson is a Dora nominated performing artist from Port Perry, Ontario and is pleased to be back at Theatre on the Ridge in 2026 for Romeo & Juliet as cast member and music captain and Sketches of Leacock as music director and composer. Previous Theatre on the Ridge credits include: Nicholas (Any Idiot Can Face A Crisis), Peter Pan (Peter Pan), Connor (The Valley), Jacob (Salt-Water Moon), and Jim (The Glass Menagerie). Michael has spent the better part of last year touring across Canada playing Seek (Pop Pop!) with Carousel Players and previously, he has spent time with the Guild Festival Theatre (Alice in Wonderland) and SaskExpress playing Galileo (We Will Rock You) and Freddy (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). Michael also writes music for himself and stage productions; credits include: My Learning Resource Teacher Is An Alien (Cooped Up With Tom), Wind in the Willows (Theatre on the Ridge), Munsch on the Moon (George Brown Theatre), and Monsters and Milfoil (Theatre on the Ridge).
Aaron Arculus
Aaron is a fashion student at Toronto Metropolitan University and hopes to pursue a career in costume design. Aaron has participated in and won awards in secondary school theatre productions. Aaron has skills in illustration, painting, felting, sewing, weaving, knitting, accessories, jewelry, embroidery, block printing, and digital design. Aaron is so excited to be working with Theatre On The Ridge this summer for Romeo & Juliet and Sketches of Leacock!
Andy Massingham
Andy Massingham is a Toronto-based Dora Mavor Moore-award winning actor, director, teacher and playwright. His wordless play Rough House (presented by Nightswimming Theatre) toured Canada and the U.S. Andy has worked across Canada as an actor at such venues as the Stratford Festival, National Arts Centre, Theatre New Brunswick, the Banff Centre, Tarragon, Soulpepper, and Y.P.T. among many others. Andy is also a faculty member of the Toronto Film School, where he teaches acting, clown and movement. He has adapted and directed plays by Shakespeare, Shaw, and Marivaux. Andy has also taught at Stratford, Humber College, Second City, George Brown among others. He will be teaching advanced movement at Tarragon theatre this fall.
Lyle Corrigan
Lyle was born and raised in Scarborough, and is a graduate of York University, where he studied classical trombone performance and music education. After his graduation in 1993, Lyle received his Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University, and his Honours Specialist in Music from the University of Toronto. For 30 years, Lyle taught music at the primary, junior, intermediate and senior levels of education, in disciplines that vary from instrumental and vocal music through to music theatre and jazz. In addition to his teaching duties, Lyle is an active musician, performer, clinician and adjudicator. Since 2010, Lyle has been involved with numerous theatre groups in Durham Region, and has served in several roles both onstage and backstage. In 2012, Lyle was awarded Best Supporting Actor in a musical at the annual ACT-CO awards, and was nominated for Best Music Direction in 2015. Lyle is pleased to be working with Theatre on the Ridge again this year, and is providing the sound design for Sketches of Leacock.
Alea Carrington
Alea is a Toronto-based actor, dancer, and choreographer with a growing passion for theatre behind the scenes. She is delighted to be returning to Theatre on the Ridge as Stage Manager, after performing with the company last season in Bluebirds and Any Idiot Can Face a Crisis. She is excited to continue expanding her work in stage management while helping bring another Theatre on the Ridge production to life.
Production credits include Stage Manager for Romeo & Juliet (Theatre on the Ridge), Assistant Stage Manager for Madam Winnifred’s Circus of Wonders (Toronto Fringe Festival), and Rehearsal & Operations Coordinator for immersive productions with Pirate Life Theatre and Vibrant Studios’ D&D: The Immersive Quest.
Grace Perlmutter
Grace is honoured to be joining Theatre on the Ridge for her first time on Sketches of Leacock. They are a recent graduate of Sheridan College’s
Technical Production for the Performing Arts program where she specialized in Wardrobe, Stage Management and Lighting. She recently completed a co-op at the Shaw Festival.
Grace would like to thank her family and friends for all their support!
Select credits include: Stage Manager – Canterbury Tales, Assistant Stage Manager – Something Rotten! Stitcher – Legally Blonde, Great Comet of 1812 (Theatre Sheridan). Lighting Technician – Edward II (Theatre Erindale).
