It is 1839. In the prime of his life, a young man breaks
his ankle badly. It never heals properly, and the blood vessels atrophy.
Finally, in 1847, doctors are forced to amputate his leg.
The operation took
place in Eaton Corner, and it made medical history. A team of doctors performed
the first major surgery in Canada using ether as anesthesia. That much is in
the history books, but the story of William Stone, the man whose leg was
amputated, has never been told. Until now.
The story of Stone
and his community is the stuff of a new two-hour play written by Marlene Lowry
of Sawyerville, and acted by a cast of 20 actors.
Five years ago, Lowry
said, Sharron Rothney asked her to write the play. Lowry consulted Sharon Moore
at the Eaton Corner Museum, and read Rev. Sherrill's journal. In the mid 1800s,
he was the Congregationalist minister in Eaton Corner, in the very church which
is now the Museum. His record of the operation, of the Stone family, and of life
in his community helped make the play historically accurate. Most of the
characters are based on real people of that era.
But Lowry didn't
quite finish writing the play five years ago. "Things happen," she said, "and
you have to put it aside." Then Rothney asked to read it, and her excitement
led them to form the cast and start rehearsals last August. Co-producers are
Lowry (director) and Rothney (casting and wardrobe).
The play was refined
during rehearsals. "So many people had a hand in it. It's not mine, it's ours,"
said Lowry. "I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with.
Everybody is just pitching in. There's not one person who hasn't contributed
something good to the play."
The leading roles -
William Stone and his wife Olive Stone - are played by Neal Hancock and Bethany
Rothney. Hancock is a student at Bishop's University, in his last year in
politics. He's enthusiastic about his character. "Will Stone is a bootmaker.
He's a guy with a sense of humour, considering all that happens to him."
Bethany Rothney -
granddaughter of Sharron Rothney - plays Olive. She is a student in liberal
arts at Champlain College. Other cast members have familiar names. Many are
from Sawyerville, and all are Haut-Saint-Franciscans. Six musicians and a stage
crew of six support the cast.
The show premières at the Sawyerville Community Centre on
Saturday, February 15. One performance is at 2 p.m. and another is at 7:30 p.m.
They will be performed in English. Admission is $8, and proceeds go to support the
Eaton Corner Museum. Space is limited, said Pat Boychuck, so it's advisable to
reserve tickets in advance. To do so, call 819-875-3182, or email pboychuck@eatoncorner.ca.
