Members of the cast for the upcoming production, One Toe In The Grave are: front row: Annette Gilchrist,
Scott Bell, Jennifer Bell and Susan Gilchrist; back row: Jodi Eckford, Crystal Leach and Therese Narbonne.
Missing are Rob McKenzie and Master of Ceremonies Brian Pender.

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Cobden – A local comedy event will benefit the community as the Cobden Community Players are getting set to present One Toe In The Grave, with proceeds going to charity.

“We raised over $7,000 last year for local charities and the Guatemala Project,” cast member Annette Gilchrist said.

This year, proceeds from Friday and Saturday will go to local charities and Sunday’s proceeds will go to the Guatemala Projects. In the past, organizations like the Cobden and District Food Bank, Phoenix
Centre, Hospice Renfrew and Cobden Agricultural Society have been among the beneficiaries.

The play this year is about Jason Kingsley, played by Scott Bell, who is a treasurer of a billion dollar patent medicine corporation that requires its officers to be married.

“Jason claims his wife has a rare disease that prevents her from entertaining or attending corporate functions,” Ms. Gilchrist explained. “A cure is accidentally discovered in one of the company’s patented medicines and Jason’s ecstatic boss is arriving any minute with the company doctor to administer the cure and then bask in the publicity.”

However, things are complicated since Jason really doesn’t have a wife, so he cons his fiancée Nicki into pretending to be an invalid. Other characters are Poopsie Magruder and Vonga the Jungle Girl.

“The cure involves a two-inch needle in the armpit and it develops that the disease is actually contagious, which only complicates the hilarity,” she said.

There is a lot of work to make a performance like this happen. Practice starts in January and there is a big commitment involved with practices two days a week. Most of the performers are veterans, and all have contributed through the years. For Jennifer Bell, although she has helped behind the scenes, this is her first time on stage.

Ms. Gilchrist and her mother-in-law, Susan Gilchrist have been in four plays. Many people may know Ms. Gilchrist for her work in the municipal world, currently as CAO in Bonnechere Valley Township. For her, this play is a chance to do something different, something fun and also give back to the community.

“My life is very serious and I like being involved in something funny,” she said. “I like that it is for local charities. So, I am having fun and raising money for charity.”

Which charities will receive the funds will be determined by the cast members, as well as support crew and the bands that are the opening acts.

“We are always looking at what is happening in the community,” she said.

The Cobden Community Players have been performing for over 30 years. There is an annual play – with a break during COVID – and the idea is always to have fun, stage a funny play and raise money for the
community.

“It is always some kind of farce,” Ms. Gilchrist said of the productions.

The show is Friday, April 25 at 7:30, Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 and Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. All shows are at the Cobden Agricultural Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. There is also a home cooked Roast Beef Dinner on Friday prior to the show between 4:30 and 6:30 for $20. Grace United Church is providing the dinner. For the other events there will be cookies and cake available during intermission.