Review: THE BOY KNOWN AS DR. BARNARDO'S is A Story that has Been Waiting to be Told

As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, you may feel inclined to stay by the fire indoors...but I suggest that those in the Milverton, Ontario area, bundle up and head over to 69 Main St. N to see an original historical play, which also happens to be based locally!

THE BOY KNOWN AS DR. BARNARDO'S is an original play, written and directed by Jeffrey Dale and produced by his 'Southwesto House' Productions. It explores an event that quite simply, does not seem to be known about nearly as much as it should be. As Mr. Dale indicates in his Director/Playwright's Notes, from 1869 to the late 1930's orphaned children were sent from England to Canada to be "Home Children". These children were also known as 'Barnardo Children' as this program was put in place by a charity founded by Dr. Thomas Barnardo in London, England in 1866. Some children were taken into families, some were made to be slave labourers, and many led an existence somewhere in between. This play is the story of Jake (played by Steve Bell)-a fictional character based on the over 150,000 children who took this journey from England to Canada, often at the age of 6 or 7. Jake is 7 (he thinks) and he eventually finds his way to the home of Thomas and Wilma (Jon Immink and Sara Godfrey), where, over time, he is accepted as their own.

Rounding out the cast of four is Liam Stricker-Burrows, who plays multiple characters (as do Immink and Godfrey) throughout the production. We first meet him as a journalist interviewing a seventy-something year old Jack, as he recounts his experience as a 'Baranardo Boy'.

The play explores Jake's experience and the sense of belonging and citizenship that he eventually feels. It also makes it very clear that there were many stories that did not have happy endings, and many children who were exploited. In vignettes throughout the play, children share their experiences on the ship en route to Eastern Canada, on the train, in orphanages, trying to live independently, working on farms or in homes, etc. These are very powerful and allow the audience to truly reflect on some of the scary experiences that no one should have to endure, let alone a pre-pubescent child!

The relationship between Jake and his new family is beautifully portrayed by the performers, and the use of folk songs, such as Will the Circle be Unbroken and Hard Times (Come Again No More) at the beginning and end, and during key moments of the play is a very effective way to bring the audience into the emotion of the story.

The space used for this production is an old church, and as such, the acoustics seem absolutely perfect for this type of music. This unique location also adds to the charm of the production.

There are still three more performances on Dec. 1, 2, and 3 and I highly recommend that those in the area make a point to check out this gem of a production. It comes history and entertainment in a very important way that allows us to reflect on the sacrifices that these children made that have essentially influenced our nation for generations. In his notes, Dale comments that in the 1990's, 1 in 12 Canadians was a descendant of a Barnardo child. It sure seems that it is about time that their stories are being told...an this is the perfect medium to do it in.

Tickets for THE BOY KNOWN AS DR. BARNARDO'S are available at the door at 69 Main St. North Milverton, Ontario. Curtain is at 8pm on Dec. 1 through Dec. 3rd.

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Dale

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