Linden House Theatre
Theatre for the joy of it!
Founded in 2007
Linden House celebrates the joy of a certain kind of comedy – the comedy of wit, language or ideas. “We like intelligent comedy,” says founder, Janet Uren. Linden House was established in 2007 by a community actor who believes in the importance of laughter. As Noel Coward said, in responding to a criticism that his plays were “trivial”: “What, I ask you, is trivial about merriment?”
THE COMPANY 2025
Hay Fever
Hay Fever
DIRECTOR
Chelsey Prince Chelsey is pleased to be directing her first show with Linden House alongside this talented cast and crew. While she’s new to Linden House, she’s no stranger to the stage or behind-the-scenes work. She’s performed in shows like Murder on the Orient Express and Halfway There with the Ottawa Little Theatre, and has taken on a variety of backstage roles over the years. Chelsey holds a BA in Drama from the University of Guelph, where she studied acting, theatre production, design, and theatre history. She’s also directed several shows for children, and loves helping young performers grow. She’s grateful to be working with such a dedicated and talented team on this production. Lindsay Laviolette
"Sorel Bliss" Lindsay, a high school drama teacher by profession, has a rich parallel life in theatre. She is an actor, director, set and sound designer, and is a member of the board of directors at the Ottawa Little Theatre. Her most recent directing credits include Murder on the Orient Express (2024) and the upcoming Act of Grace, which she will be co-producing at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024. At Linden House, she directed the recent production of Outside Mullingar (2022), and performed in Enchanted April (2017), The Savannah Sipping Society (2019) and Steel Magnolias (2024). |
CAST
Venetia Lawless "Myra Arundel" Venetia has a long list of credits and awards to her name, including most recently the Leonard Beaulne Memorial Trophy for Best Actress in a Major Role for Dead Accounts (2018) at the Eastern Ontario Drama League Awards. Since appearing as Marlafaye in The Savannah Sipping Society (2019) and Rosemary in Outside Mullingar (2022), Venetia has directed several shows, including most recently a production of Burn, which was taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023, and a co-direction of Murder on the Orient Express at the Ottawa Little Theatre in early 2024. As well, she is a board member at the Ottawa Little Theatre. This is her sixth role at Linden House, including Enchanted April (2017) and Steel Magnolias (2024) and she's thrilled to be back. Big love to Janet for leading this amazing company. 
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LInda Webster
"Jackie Coryton" Linda Webster is an experienced actor in the community theatre world, notably appearing at the Ottawa Little Theatre where she has taken on leading roles in a dozen shows since 2007. Her range is impressive, with parts that span the horizon from a frisky wife in the farcical Move Over, Mrs. Markham to the terrifying Nurse Rached in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. As for mysteries, she has appeared twice over the years in Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced, once as the murderer! On a more classical note, she has interpreted such roles as Elise in Molière's The Miser. She recently appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in an OLT production of the award-winning Burn, by local playwright, John Muggleton. Linda is returning to Linden House after performances in Italian American Reconciliation (2023) and Steel Magnolias (2024). |
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Jane Morris
"Clara" Jane Morris is a veteran of the Ottawa Little Theatre (OLT), where she has appeared in 38 productions since 1978, most recently taking on multiple roles in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2024). She won Best Supporting Actor at the Theatre Ontario Festival for her role in the OLT production of Dead Accounts (2018). Other memorable recent roles have been in Ripcord (2019), Other Desert Cities (2017) and Calendar Girls (2016). Behind the scenes at OLT, Jane is involved in the Season Planning, Communications and Volunteer Committees. This is second appearance at Linden House, having taken on the role of Ouiser in last year's Steel Magnolias. |
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Janet Uren
"Judith Bliss" Since founding Linden House in 2007, Janet Uren has had the privilege of enacting such wonderful personae as Florence Foster Jenkins in Glorious! , Nana in For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, and Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit., among others. Over the past few years, Janet has also played some wonderful roles at the Ottawa Little Theatre, including her favourites, Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Ruth in The Calendar Girls and, most recently, Mrs. Jennings in Sense & Sensibility. In 2024 at Linden House, she played Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias. |
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Guy Newsham
"Richard Greatham" Guy is very, very happy to be making his debut with Linden House, having spent many years enjoying their wonderful productions from the audience. Guy was most recently on stage at Ottawa Little Theatre, as Dr. Armstrong in And Then There Were None (2025), and as Ed Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2024); he is also active at Kanata Theatre. Spending time with, and learning from, all the talented people in this production of Hay Fever has been a joy. Guy also writes for the stage, and his plays have received more than 130 prizes and productions in six countries. 
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Yazen Jaouni
"Sandy Tyrell" Yazen escapes a humdrum career in software by moonlighting as a performer in the Ottawa community. Apart from being an amateur musician, he has been hooked by the thrill of the stage since first appearing in 2022’s The Siegel (Ottawa Little Theatre), and has since appeared in numerous stage plays and musicals. Recent credits include Mr. Bungee in A New Brain (Tototoo Theatre), Rico in The Shawshank Redemption (Ottawa Little Theatre), and Tommy Djilas in The Music Man (Orpheus Musical Theatre). |
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Ray Burrage-Goodwin
"Simon Bliss" This is Ray's first role with Linden House, and he is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a strong cast and crew. Ray recently performed as Peter Shaw in Silent Sky with Three Sisters Theatre Company and has performed in shows with the Ottawa Little Theatre and the UMass Theatre Guild. Favorite past productions include Murder on the Orient Express (2024), August: Osage County (2015), and The Laramie Project (2011). |
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Ian Stauffer
"David Bliss" This is Ian’s debut with Linden House, but it will be his fourth Coward play -- always a humbling and exhilarating experience. He has been very lucky to have performed with many companies over the years, including the OLT, Kanata Theatre, Orleans Young Players (now Ottawa School of Theatre), Phoenix Players and Tototoo. In 2009, he received a nod as the Best Actor from the EODL for his performance as The Man in More Theatre’s production of This Is A Play. In 1999, Ian helped to establish ‘the lawyer play’ productions, which continue annually at the GCTC. He wrote Looking for Paradise for the 10th anniversary show. Ian was last seen in the OLT’s Jonas and Barry in the Home (Jonas). He is fortunate, indeed, to be with such an outstanding cast and crew in Hay Fever. |
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THE PRODUCTION TEAM 2025
Director - Chelsey Prince
Assistant director - Judy McCormick
Producer - Janet Uren
Co-Producer - Venetia Lawless
Stage manager - Barbara Merriam
Assistant stage manager and prompter - Marlene Spatuk
Costumes - Isabella Redgate and Ann Marie Snell
Costume assistants - Sharon Bernbaum, Susanna Doherty, Ross Dumontet, Anne Ernesaks, Chantal Hébert, Jessica Salo, Denise Shannon and Liza Westwood
Props - Barbara Merriam and Liza Westwood
Lighting design - David Magladry
Light and sound technician - Bob McKellar
Original score and sound design - Jana Van Wyk
Set design - Chelsey Prince
Set construction - Hugh Voogt
Carpentry - Bridget Grounds
Artist - Clarissa van Aswegen
Flower decoration - Janet Kiff-Macaluso
Hair and make-up design - Linda Webster
Publicity - Natalie MacLellan
Front of house - Judy McCormick
Front of house assistants - Carolyn Brereton, Claire Brodie, Nanci Burns, Cathie Closs, Judy Deegan, Joan Freeman, Alain Jegen, Claude Jobin, Blaine Kennedy, Marian McLennan, Mary Taylor
Hospitality - Jeanne Gauthier
Hospitality assistants -Monica Browness, Cathie Closs, Chantal Hébert, Nancy Hogan, Dawn Fanjoy, Sylvie Roy-Hotte, Denise Shannon, Michelle Shortall, Liza Westwood
Ticket sales - Linda Webster
Program - Marlene Spatuk
Photography - Maria Vartanova
Poster design - Karenna Boychuk
