Sunshine Sketches Of A Little Town is special.
If you are Canadian, this
is a must-see as it is a proud part of our heritage. If you are not, please
consider watching as it is great family viewing. Colin and I have seen a copy and it is
delightful, funny, and surprising.
 |
| Colin and Deb on set. |
Sunshine Sketches
was written by Stephen Leacock in 1912. Mr. Leacock was a humourist and writer of fiction who was
born in Hampshire, England in 1869. He came to Canada with his family at the
age of six and was educated among other schools at the prestigious Upper Canada
College in Toronto and the University of Chicago where he received a doctorate
in political science and political economy. He soon became disillusioned with
politics (smart lad) and turned to writing, with fiction and humour a
specialty. He started out his literary career writing short stories that were
published in magazines in Canada and the U.S. and became very popular all over
the world. Around 1911 it was said that more people had heard of Stephen
Leacock than had heard of Canada. Still true today!!! :-)
Between 1915 and 1925, he
was the most popular humourist in the world.
Groucho Marx and Jack
Benny were among his biggest fans. He was a huge influence on them when they
were young vaudevillians and fifty years after first reading him they still
considered him one of their favourite comic writers.
Sunshine Sketches
was shot in the thinly-disguised town of Mariposa, a small town in Ontario that
Leacock was all too familiar with. The story is based on fact and fiction or, I
should say, fact and embellishment.
This production is a
virtual who’s who of Canadian talent, with the great Gordon Pinsent at the
helm. We are proud of it and wanted to share. Please consider spending some
time with us in this charming little town.
Barbara: I saw the
trailer for this just the other night and it looks fabulous! Beautifully shot
and with some great stars (including our dear Deb and Colin). I’m so glad you
remembered to remind us, Deb—because TV shows, especially Canadian ones, tend
to fall through the cracks. I really want to catch this one!
We couldn’t get the trailer
to embed here, but if you go to this link, you can see a really cute (and not too long) making-of doc.
Thanks for the link Barb, it looks terrific!! I hope they put it on rogers on demand because I know it is this Sunday and I can't watch it then, but am hoping to catch it later. I love shows about Canada's past. I remember Deb, when you were filming it in the fall talking about your bad hotel room, the shower and candles. Small Ontario towns are charming, but not luxurious by any stretch. Looks like a wonderful cast. Fingers crossed for R.O.D. !!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary-Jo! I know. A few friends are going to PVR it as they will be away. Yeah I would think CBC will even repeat it. I realize that I should have told our American friends that they can stream the show live on CBC. And yes you remember correctly the luxury!!!
ReplyDeleteWill the sketch show be played in the US?
ReplyDeleteHi Charlotte, It's actually a film with one through line story but i can totally see how you would get the impression that it is a sketch show (title and all!) You can stream it live on CBC.ca on your computer! Thanks for asking!
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching AND taping it on my trusty ol' VCR!! Canadian heritage and humour must be preserved!!
ReplyDeleteNancy in Mississauga
Ooooh, I know what I'll be watching *and* PVR-ing on Sunday. :) That looks so good! I can't wait to see it! And, Stephen Leacock is a hilarious writer. Loved that book. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo, hope you guys enjoy it!
DeleteCan't wait to watch it......Sounds pretty good....!!!! And you and Colin look ADORABLE !!!!! I was gonna ask you about where I could watch it...but I'll tune into CBC.ca to watch ....!!! thanks sweetie !!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Shalaka I have just emailed our publicist telling her I need to know details for non-Canadian viewing. I suggest cbc.ca but...she might have other ideas. Stay tuned!
DeleteOhh... great let us know if she has any ideas....!!xo
DeletePS You guys are in it...that makes it really special...and I know you guys mustve ROCKED !!!!! xo
ReplyDeleteJust a warning to all. I have a very small part. Some cute moments but very small. Just the Judge's wife. However Colin has a great part! xo
ReplyDeleteWell, people like to say, behind any great man, there is an even better woman. :)
DeleteI will have to see if we still get CBC! We did when we had cable, but we have dish now. It really looks like fun, though! Do you know if they will make it available through netflix or hulu or anything afterward?
ReplyDeleteHi Hart, I just emailed the publicist to find out details. Guess I really should have done that before the post. Sigh. Stay tuned please.
ReplyDeleteDeb..honey.....we get to watch You....and Colin.....TOGETHER !!?!?!?!!!! I mean no matter how long your part is......I KNOW Its gonna be AWESOME !!!!!!!!! Cant wait to watch it !!! xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Shalaka!
Deletexoxoxo
DeleteI will try and catch this somewhere on something.
ReplyDeleteMadge that made me laugh. Somewhere on something! Thanks!
DeleteAwww..this Charlie Leacock boy looks so cute. :D
ReplyDeleteAnd the area with the lake looks like Nova Scotia (at least the part where our friends live...).
Looks like a nice movie! =) I don't know if I can watch it...but maybe there is a way.
Hi Becki, Yeah it's northern Ontario. Various locations between an hour and a half to three hours from Toronto. Stunning. We shot in many of the actual locations of Stephen Leacock's childhood haunts. Thanks!
DeleteJeez!!! How in the heck will I ever keep up with all our great Canadian actors (their bios on TCE) when so many of them are in this one show??? Not that I'm complaining. I love seeing what everyone's doing. And then ... trying to keep those bios up to date. Love it that so many are on TV these days, and are able to work right here in Canada.
ReplyDeleteKate isn't it great that so many great actors CHOOSE to stay?
DeleteWish I lived in Canada. Is there any way it can be broadcasted in the US?
ReplyDeleteIt won't be Kelly. See comment below for details. Sorry.
DeleteIt looks so cool! The costume and sets are so beautiful! And I'm sure the performances and script are, too :) It was also great to see so much national pride coming through on the video. I hope the first screening goes really well (and all the subsequent ones :P)!!
ReplyDeleteI tried the cbc.ca to see if I could watch anything there but, as expected, no luck. So I'll look out for your update on how to watch it otherwise. (I live in New Zealand, by the way).
Aimee thanks so much for the support but yeah...see below for details. Sorry.
DeleteP.S. You look great in those dresses! And Colin's sideburns are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI know it was really a lot of fun playing dress up!
DeleteSadly I just heard from CBC the following. Sorry, dear non Canadian friends:
ReplyDeleteCBC has confirmed that Sunshine Sketches will be available for on-demand at CBC.ca. The full special will be posted on the Web and the CBC TV iPad app as soon as broadcast in the West wraps up on Sunday.
Best place to direct viewers is cbc.ca/sunshinesketches.
As is usually the case, US/International viewers cannot access this due to geo-blocking.
Perhaps it will be released on DVD at some point? I seem to remember another program(mme) starring you and Colin, with several other Canadian actors, that was released on DVD. ;)
Deletejust had a look through the pictures on the official show web site that barbara links to . brilliant pictures of Colin and deb together and Colin on his own . there is a really nice one of you and Colin dancing Deb .
ReplyDeletei am jealous of all you guys who will get to see this . it looks right interesting . sadly though i am on the wrong continent to even see it online never mind on TV . if it is broadcast on any Chanel that can be seen in new york i might be able to get my uncles partner to DVD r it for me . i will have to wait and see what information deb gets back form her publicist .
by the way isn't mariposa Spanish for butterfly ?
wow Linda I didn't know that. Butterfly makes sense though. Lots of them in the spring and summer! Wish you could see it! So wish you guys could see it! Grrrrrr Arggggggggg.
ReplyDeleteWAAAHHH I wish I lived in Cananda!!!
ReplyDelete:((((((((((((((((((((((
It looks like a lovely show, though, and I hope it lives long and prospers (please disregard the terrible Star Trek reference).
Holly I always love a good Trek reference. I am a SCI FI geek. I have even been known to curse a good "FRAK" when needed!
DeleteIt's so funny...I don't even LIKE Star Trek!!!! lol
DeleteBoo! Hiss!!! We'll just watch it in spirit! :]
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy to have you watch it in spirit Kelly! xo
ReplyDeleteWell, the moon will see it, and since we can all see the moon, maybe we can all say we were connected to the viewing and...
ReplyDeleteI'm pushing it, aren't I...
(I linked an earlier comment I made here right back to themiddle-ages. I'm intent on promoting on this, I guess. :) )
Hm. Well, hailing from Buffalo (prolly better known to you guys as 'Ontario South' lol), I should still be getting CBC, so I'll try to check it out!
ReplyDeleteOntario south. Love it! Yes you will probably be able to get it!
DeleteNO Dawn it's perfect perfect. Brought a big smile to my face this morning!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm gonna miss it looks delightful. I have never been to Canada but hope I can cross it off my dream list at some point. My all time favorite Canadian actor the voice of doom I think they called him, Lorne Greene. As I said I was obsessed with Bonanza as a child
ReplyDeleteAh! I am a big Bonanza Fan, too! :D :D
DeleteHere Come de Judge!, Here Come de Judge!, Here Come de Judge!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I've been wanting to do that ever since I heard it was Colin's part!
Flippant references aside, I have been looking forward to this Mariposa/Orillia story ever since you told us aboot it.
Barb, I think it would b shorter to say who isn't in this! Talk about yer Canuck Performance AllS tar Team!!
DeleteAND totally worth it- a charming and touching portrait of "Mariposa" and the boy who would become Leacock.
If Colin got any more crusty as the Judge, He'd have had to have been buttered!
Deb -THAT HAT!!! you did it justice! Wish we could get away w hats like that still.
And the end- was that were your moon inspiration came from? How beautiful was that- walking down the street as the buildings fold up like a pop up book till just the open road, and a man walking down it, illuminated by the full moon!
CBC will HAVE to market this- they'd be seriously daft not to realize the potential!
Sharon I am so glad that you liked it! Sweet huh? Very proud of this. It's nice to do something that you know will last and especially something you know families can watch together. Thanks for supporting it Sharon. Of course you are always all about the support.
DeleteDeb: My husband and I are proud Canadian flag wavers. We were greatly anticipating this show, and enjoyed it immensely. The production and acting were top-notch! We were married on the RMS Segwum (aka Mariposa Belle) in 1990 so enjoyed seeing so much of her as well.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, it will be sad to see Little Mosque go off the air. I have really enjoyed it, and you are a RIOT in it.
Jane
Deb, Sunshine Sketches was absolutely lovely from start to finish. Never mind YOU being proud of it; I'M proud of it and I'm not even in it!! They should turn it into a weekly series. Heh!! Colin was hilarious and so were many others. Scott and I sat in the living room hooting right from the early scene when P.Keleghan was snoozing/drooling on his porch. Too many good things to mention them all. And your character's aside about manners -- hee!! I darest say no more.
ReplyDeleteJennifer we loved your part!!
ReplyDelete