Two friends, Al and Wizzer, reside in the same retirement home and meet on the bench outside every day. They swap stories and poke fun at the regimented life of their residence, jokingly referred to as a
“Finishing School.”
Their banter is full of humor, advice, and support as they navigate friendship, aging, and the quirks of their later years.
CAST
Al
Karl Agnew
Karl is delighted to be returning to the stage for his fourth season with the Pinawa Players. He has only recently come back to theatre after an extended hiatus being productive and respectable and is very grateful for the opportunity to put that nonsense behind him.
Meet Al!
Al is one half of the daily bench duo at the retirement home affectionately nicknamed “Finishing School.” Sharp-witted and observant, Al has a knack for turning everyday moments into humor and wisdom.
Wizzer
Daryl Woodbeck
If you’ve been to a Pinawa Players show, chances are you’ve seen Daryl’s work. Whether on stage, backstage or in the director’s chair! With decades of involvement and countless memorable performances, Daryl is a true fixture in our theatre family.
The records show that Daryl’s first foray onto the Pinawa stage was in The Nerd in 1989. Of course, he worked (and continues to work) in a backstage capacity since the early 1980s. After acting in four plays, he ventured into the director’s chair for the 2003 production of I Take This Man. Since then, he has appeared on the Pinawa stage an additional 15 times. Daryl has also acted with Haystack Theatre in Beausejour and acted and directed with Gillam’s Live Wire Productions. Most recently, audiences saw him as Henry Bingham in Pinawa Players’ 2024 fall production of The Fox on the Fairway.
Meet Wizzer!
Wizzer is the other half of the daily bench. He is lovable and has sharp-tongued humor.
Shirley
Myrna Tiede
A veteran of the stage (and backstage) Myrna Tiede has been acting on stage since 1998 in “Words, Words, Words” and “Beautiful Lake Winnipeg”. In 2000, Myrna acted with a cast of 120 in “Jack and the Beanstalk” . The last count we have is 13 on-stage performances - if we include the Haystack Theatre in Beausejour. But don’t ask Myrna which performance was her favourite, because she feels that each one was special in it's own right. When not acting, you may have seen her working backstage with props or as Stage Manager.
It’s been several years since Myrna’s last performance in “The Games Afoot” and she is grateful to have this opportunity to return to the stage in the humorous and moving “Finishing School”, a play by Elaine Liner.
Meet Shirley!
Shirley is a warm-hearted and lively resident of the “Finishing School” who brings humor, charm and a touch of unexpected possibility to the lives of those around her.
Minnie
SJ Nesbitt
Sarah Jane (SJ) Nesbitt will be making her Pinawa Players debut after stepping away from acting roles for over 10 years. A lifelong performer with a background in musical theatre, she has appeared onstage and has taken on almost every role behind the scenes. SJ is thrilled to be performing again and reconnecting with one of her first loves: live theatre. Although she’s a newer face in the area, she’s lived in Lac du Bonnet for almost 4 years and has been working at Two Rivers in Pinawa since October 2024. SJ sings regularly with the World Village Gospel Choir in Winnipeg, pursues other visual arts, and is part of the global teaching team at the Centre for Holding Space. She hopes to see you at the show.
Meet Minnie!
Minnie is a thirty-something daughter visiting the retirement home after the recent loss of a loved one. When Al and Wizzer find her sitting on their bench one morning, the unexpected encounter turns into a charming moment of generational comedy.
Minnie brings a fresh, lively energy to the scene and reminds everyone that connection, humor and a little mischief can happen at any age.
The Voice
Connie Hamon
Connie has been with the Pinawa Players for 40 years. She has appeared in 33 plays. All of the plays were fun but her favourites were Who’s on First, The Nerd, The Man with the Plastic Sandwich, Gone to Glory, The Boys Next Door, If We Are Women, Jack in the Beanstalk, Sinners, The Dining Room, Cinderella, Dixie Swim Club, and Blithe Spirit. She has also directed (Bedroom Farce and When God comes for Breakfast You Don’t Burn the Toast), done Props, been Stage and House Manager, helped with costumes, helped with stage decorations and been a producer. She has met and laughed with a lot of creative, fun people over the years and thinks that is the best part about being a Pinawa Player.
Meet 'The Voice'!
Connie Hamon brings wit and impeccable timing to the role of “The Voice” in Finishing School. Though never seen on stage, The Voice is ever-present as it calmly delivers the rules, reminders and announcements that keep life at the retirement home running on schedule.