If Books Could Kill

Theatrical production supports library expansion project

By Taylor McClure
Townships’ Daily New Bits

CIDI 99.1 FM

Knowlton Players is getting set to put on its second major theatre production since the pandemic began two years ago titled If Books Could Kill. The production is in support of the Pettes Memorial Library who is currently in the midst of a major fundraising campaign to add an extension onto the back of its building. The extension will serve as a multi-purpose space for the community. Having collaborated in the past, Knowlton Players and Pettes Memorial are combining their efforts to help raise money for the cause.

“It’s great to be back, really missed it, and really excited. It’s so much fun to be playing with people and the rehearsals, we are having such a great laugh. It’s super and very exciting,” said Danny Mcauley, member of the board for Knowlton Players and director for If Books Could Kill.

Mcauley said that the idea to organize a fundraising production came from Pettes Memorial.

“They were looking for ideas to promote their new extension, to get the word out, and to create more funding and buzz. We’ve had a nice relationship with the library for many years,” explained Mcauley.” (…) They came to us and said ‘could we do this? Could we do some sort of play or production?’ We are fortunate enough to have Laura Teasdale, whose written a lot of plays for us in the past, we went to Laura and she’s agreed.”

If Books Could Kill brings us back in time to the opening gala night at Pettes Memorial in 1894 and has historical references to Knowlton throughout the play.

“People are getting ready, the dignitaries are around rehearsing the songs, the speeches, but a few things sort of go wrong,” laughed Mcauley. “(…)There is a lot of truth in there, about the actual set up of what actually happened, and then Laura takes that Knowlton Player’s twist and throws in this complete fun, crazy farce.”

If audiences are looking for another unique twist, If Books Could Kill found one of its actors in international best selling author Louise Penny. Penny is one of the biggest supporters and financial contributors to the library’s expansion project and always wanted to be involved in a Knowlton Player’s production.

“Narcissa Pettes, who was a strong woman, very active in the community, was involved in many different things, her husband died and left her the money. (…) She built the library in his memory,” explained Mcauley. “There was this natural connection between Narcissa Pettes and Louise Penny. So, she (Laura) wrote the character in for Louise.”

Mcauley noted that the show is all about collaboration.

“It’s about everybody working together to get this library created. That’s the real scene that Laura sort of pushes. (…) Really the whole point is working together, collaboration, and getting to that place where it’s community, it’s all about community, and she’s done a really wonderful job of bringing that together,” he said.

Details for dates, show times, and ticket prices can be found on Pettes Memorial Library’s website.

Listen to the full interview below: