Pictured are Jeannie Blake, who plays Margaret Mitchel, mother of seven-year-old George, played by Quintin Blake. They were separated from the mother and sold to farmers or sent out west on trains. George was allowed to stay at the home because he was weak. He was beloved by the staff and has the only marble tombstone in the cemetery. He died at seven years old.

CANTON – “Spirit Whispers on the Grasse” will be presented by the Grasse River Players (GRP) at Sykes Hall at St. Lawrence University on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13.

A performance will be offered on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. and two performances on Saturday will take place at 3 and 7 p.m. Sykes Hall is located on Park Street.

As the audience enters Sykes Hall, they will walk through the poorhouse cemetery with its wooden stakes and one marble tombstone. The seating will be arranged in a semi-circular fashion utilizing the furniture in Sykes as if the audience is part of the living room of the Poorhouse.

Why are the Grasse River Players (GRP) spending so much time and effort on a story on people who were poor and lived 100 years ago?

“People should not be thrown away,” said Karen Wells, a GRP actress in the docu-drama said. “All lives are important. When we say their names and identify them, we are showing respect for people who loved, lived and worked here. By describing the struggles that shaped their lives, we can learn from them and recognize our own connection to them.”

Mary H. Egan, Art Johnson and Elaine Kuracina, members of Grasse River Players, researched the Canton archives at the Silas Wright House and Historian Linda Casserly’s office. They created the docu-drama with music. Kuracina is the stage director and Barbara Burdick is the music director.

The play includes poorhouse facts presented through the character of Dr. Shea (the real Poorhouse Doc), a peek into the poorhouse staff activities and the spirits who tell their stories.

In association with St Lawrence University Anthropology professor Dr. Mindy Pitre and her students, GRP will include a presentation of students’ research posters on the finding of unmarked poorhouse graves.

The Grasse River Players are sponsoring Cynthia Davis, professional make up artist to give a workshop in creating an old face for theatre and film. All are invited to the Canton Free Library for the make up demonstration on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 1 until 2:30 p.m. The fee is $3 for supplies.

Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at Brewer Bookstore and at the door before the performance. Parking is in Lot F. Travel on Lincoln Avenue and turn left onto Mechanic Street.

For additional information, call 265-0864.