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
Or The Whale
A (loose) adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick… With puppets!
Saturday, August 29 @ 7 pm
Old Soles Collective, a group of young theatre artists from across canada, have been in residence for the past 6 weeks as the 2026 Theatre on the Ridge oRidginators.
The oRidginator Lab is the education and creative development cohort for each summer and this year Old Soles Collective have become part of the community on The Ridge as instructors, performers (God
Save The Sodomites) and creatives, workshopping their newest work: Or The Whale.
On Saturday, August 29th , be among the first to see Act One of this new work from multi-award-
winning playwrights Aliyah Bourgeault and Emmet Logue, who will also be starring in this workshop presentation alongside Frankie McKay and Kaleb Piper.
Before the presentation of Or The Whale, the evening will open with a short first draft presentation of their new Canadian Musical based on a true story: The Little Tragedy of Little Caesar.
Have a whale of a time with Starbuck and Ishmael as they follow their Captain on a mythic quest to confront the whale. We hope to see you there for this first look at two new Canadian productions!
Tickets are PWYM (minimum $15)
BEHIND THE SCENES
Suitable for ages 12+
RUNNING TIME: APPROX 60 MINUTES, NO INTERMISSION
Content Warning(s): grief, death of a parent, violence, language.
Piggyland
A new play by Graeme Powell
Directed by Carey Nicholson
September 9th – 20th, 2026
Piggyland is an exciting new drama by Graeme Powell. Inspired by true events that took place in
Sunderland, Ontario in the early 1960s, Piggyland is a tale of greed, deception and the pursuit of dreams.
Concocted by career conman John Laun, the Piggyland farm raised over a million dollars from investors eager to double, or even triple their investment. Instead, they lost it all.
The mysterious John Laun vanished without a trace…and so did all the money. Remember, If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…
The Creatives
Graeme is a playwright and actor who is familiar to audiences throughout Durham Region from his many roles with Theatre on the Ridge, Borelians Community Theatre, and Oshawa Little Theatre, to name a few.
He is a member of the Playwright’s Guild of Canada, and his first play, Renovations, was awarded Best New Canadian Play at the Act-Co Festival in 2015. Other plays include: All
Together Now, Palmer Park, A Third of Richard, and a series of short plays called Pine Grove Plots. He lives in Sunderland with his family.
Carey Nicholson is a co-founder and current artistic director of Theatre on the Ridge and an accomplished director and theatre designer.
Originally trained in classical and contemporary dance, she has been on faculty with George Brown College and the Dance Arts Institute (formerly the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre) and is an independent arts educator.
Behind the Scenes
Suitable for ages 12 +
Running time: 90 minutes. No intermission
