By Dan Lalande
You know the old saying: Once an actor, always an actor.
What you might not know is that like a theatrical performance, there’s often an intermission. Sometimes, it’s a long one. In the case of Neil Kelly, 38 years.
Neil, the Nottingham-born Air Force brat raised mostly in Ottawa, is a graduate of Ottawa U’s theatre program. “I did have dreams of a career in the arts at that time,” the 69-year-old confesses, “but when I graduated in 1976, there were few opportunities for newbies. I missed out on auditions for the apprentice program at Stratford and only made the reserve list for National Theater School.” Instead, Neil came to The Ottawa Little Theatre, Canada’s longest-operating regional showcase.
His tenure at the OLT was enjoyable but brief, thanks to a career honouring his other talent, communications. While Neil the speechwriter thrived, Neil the actor did bit parts, murder mystery dinner evenings and the odd movie. “I even exchanged three lines with an up-and-coming Kevin Costner in a film called The Gunrunner. I found it later on VHS in the bargain bin at Zellers!”
A full-time return to performing didn’t happen until after his retirement, a span of over three decades. Neil came back to the OLT in 2023 in Love from a Stranger; this year, he appeared in the stage adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption.
Another happy latecomer to the stage is Ann Scholberg. Ann, an import from Cambridge in the U.K., made a name for herself in Ottawa practicing family law. For 10 years, she participated in theatrical fundraisers staged by the local bar society. “I enjoyed it so much that once I retired, I told myself that I was going to try something more ‘out there.’” She too ended up at the OLT, where she continues, at age 80, to contribute both on stage and behind the scenes.
As for Allan MacLeod, the farm boy from nearby Alexandria had never considered acting until a few short years ago. The team lead for the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security spent his nights helping out backstage. He weaned himself on walk-ons until he was ready to transition. He’s appeared in seven shows so far, but it’s the social aspect of acting he finds the most rewarding. “The friends and memories are the best part,” he maintains.
Neil was a bit skittish about chancing the limelight again after such an extended absence. In the end, though, he says, “A feeling of ‘being home again’ won out over nerves by a margin of 51 to 49.” Ann, on the other hand, felt no such nervousness. “As a litigator, I was accustomed to speaking out.” Even Allan admits that today, he can’t wait to put himself out there.
This is not to say that in all cases, there aren’t other age-related challenges. While Neil hasn’t suffered many, Ann and Allan have learned what to look out for. Says Ann, “Learning your lines can take more time. Stamina can be an issue, too. A play is four months of your life, lots of rehearsals and a very long run.” Adds Allan, “Issues with mobility or speed can arise, like quick costume changes.”
That said, there are distinct advantages to being a seasoned performer. Explains Neil, “When you act, you draw on real life to shape your character. Senior actors have tons of life experience. Younger ones haven’t been through life’s joys and sorrows as much.” Adds Ann, “You’ve also learned a lot more about stagecraft, projecting your voice and other technical challenges.” In addition, mature actors tend to be the most dependable. “We can be relied on,” says Allan. “When I commit, I am all in.”
So is Neil, especially when it comes to the continuation of his craft: “I hope to audition for character roles at least once a year until my final curtain.”
Ann has already secured her newest assignment. She’s just been cast in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. She’s excited to have landed the role. Parts for older actors aren’t as common, especially for women. Ann is a member of the theatre’s play selection committee and those are two of the many considerations the committee takes into account.
Allan has a more idiosyncratic blueprint in mind: “After I retire, I plan on working at Upper Canada Village. I’ll be acting all day in a setting that I’m knowledgeable about, having been raised on a dairy farm. It will keep me busy.”
All the world truly is a stage.
