These kids aren’t ‘playing’ around

by Sean Frame

A local theatre company is using the performing arts to bring out the best in Windsor’s youth.

The Riverfront Theatre Company is a charitable organization that provides performance experience and theatre training to youth in Windsor and Essex County. The Riverfront Theatre Company is a branch of The Youth Connection Association for Academic Excellence, a non-profit organization that helps youth of all ages with their academics, provides outreach and helps them build confidence.

This year the company is presenting The Importance of Being Earnest Feb. 21 to the 23 at The Capitol Theatre.  The company gives a chance for youth of all ethnic and social backgrounds a chance to express themselves through theatrical performance.

Jacquelyn Poulin, 18, the assistant director of The Importance of Being Earnest said she has been with the group since 2010. She said she started as an actor and eventually worked her way up to assistant director.

“It really helped boost my confidence because I was never really an outgoing person,” said Poulin. “Getting a big round of applause after playing Alice from Alice in Wonderland was really exciting and invigorating.”

The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedic play written by Oscar Wilde. The play follows Joh Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff putting on a farce as a person called Earnest to get the women they love to marry them.  The directors from the Riverfront Theatre Company put their own personal spin on the play by adding a steampunk theme to the characters and set.

“Most of the arts I have experienced have  been with the Riverfront Company since I was 11,” said Caroline Garswood, a homeschooled 15-year-old who plays Reverend Canon Chasuble in the play. “It’s enabled me to be able to speak to people, I wasn’t exactly shy but I couldn’t express myself the way I wanted and I think theatre has helped me with this and I hope to continue doing it.”

Kenny Gbadebo is the founder and executive director of The Youth Connection Association. The association was founded in 1994 and was used to reach out to youth and give them an experience for the betterment of their lives. The association also works towards the prevention of alcohol and substance abuse.

“I believe in trying to help these young people,” said Gbadebo. “I believe that the young people are our future, I am not looking for any reward and am just doing what I believe is right as a citizen of Windsor.”

The Riverfront Theatre Company plans to continue with promoting the arts in youth and will be back with the play Pollyanna later this year on May 16.