Vancouver Island-based playwright and theatre aficionado Michael Armstrong had stumbled across the faded, old manuscript entitled, “So This is the Practice of Medicine,” written by his adoptive grandfather, R. L. Laney, MD. As soon as he began reading the fragile pages, he knew he was holding pure gold in his hands.
Many years later, Armstrong submitted an emotionally charged musical, written with his partner, Beth DeVolder, to ECHO Players theatre group in Qualicum Beach. “The Last Frontier,” based on first-hand accounts from his grandfather’s manuscript, was selected as the 2026-27 season opener for the theatre group, marking its world premiere.
The Artistic Direction Committee (ADC) at ECHO Players was excited to be presented with such a play. They feel it represents everything community theatre can aspire to be: ambitious, heartfelt, and deeply connected to the people who create it. Presenting a world premiere with Canadian roots is a rare privilege. The ADC wanted to give audiences the opportunity to experience a story that’s never been told before, while celebrating the extraordinary talent that exists within our own community.
This show also allows the theatre group to honour DeVolder’s enduring artistic legacy after her recent passing. Her beautiful musical score will continue to inspire and connect people, making “The Last Frontier” not only an exciting theatrical event, but a meaningful celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community.
“Although Armstrong’s grandmother, Joanne Laney, was beside her husband throughout those years, she is not mentioned once in the book. “It is her story that Beth [DeVolder] and I felt compelled to tell”
Infused with an unlikely mix of romantic entanglements, the raucous energy of lumberjacks, and the fiery women’s protest movement of the early 1900s, “The Last Frontier” is set amongst the unforgiving challenges and fading landscape of the Canadian frontier. The play explores both the hardships of practicing medicine under these primitive conditions, as well as one woman’s journey to overcome tragedy and loneliness, carving out a place for herself on the frontier.
The woman left out of the book
Although Armstrong’s grandmother, Joanne Laney, was beside her husband throughout those years, she is not mentioned once in the book. “It is her story that Beth [DeVolder] and I felt compelled to tell,” he says. “I am so happy that Jennifer Kelly agreed to play leading character, Joanne. She is a fabulous singer and she and Beth were very close.”
In addition to Kelly, the production also stars Calvin Tyndall as the indomitable Doc Laney, a brilliant Canadian frontier doctor at the Rainy Lake Logging Company. Brian Tull plays the camp’s charming superintendent, with Musical Director Kyle Friesen helping to guide and support an energetic cast of 23.
“The play is an opportunity to honour the lives of our parents and grandparents, our forebears who carved out a path through hardship to build us a place here”
Echoes of Vancouver Island’s logging past
Although this play isn’t set on Vancouver Island, Armstrong believes the themes are echoed here. “The settler experiences of life in logging camps are not exclusive to one place. The experiences of Northern Ontario are very similar to experiences here on Vancouver Island,” says Armstrong. “Part of what we are doing with this production is drawing these parallels. The play is an opportunity to honour the lives of our parents and grandparents, our forebears who carved out a path through hardship to build us a place here.”
Community theatre in Qualicum Beach, made by volunteers
Armstrong is not only the playwright, but the director for the ECHO Players production, facing the usual challenges of mounting a show. “As we ease into rehearsals, we are faced with the constant struggle of balancing everyone’s personal schedules. One of the important things to remember as the director of any community theatre project is that we are working with volunteers who are carving time out of their lives and giving it to us as we pursue our artistic vision. It is a gift and we need to cherish and care for it.”
ECHO Players President, Mike Andrews, says the theatre group is a community-based volunteer organization dedicated to supporting local talent. “We are especially delighted when we can support local playwrights who write stories of Canadiana and the meaning of being Canadian,” Andrews says. “Our audiences are always supportive of our local artists, of whom we have many!”
ECHO Players 2026-27 season continues with a delightfully diverse lineup of productions: Vancouver Island One Act Play Festival in November, “A Winter Wager” in December, and “Little Shop of Horrors” in July.
“The Last Frontier,” launching ECHO Players 52nd season, runs October 8 to 25 at The Village Theatre with tickets available for this and all shows through the box office at 110 W. 2nd Avenue in Qualicum Beach and on their website, www.echoplayers.ca
