4th Line Theatre is excited to open its 2025 Summer Season with the world premiere of Ian McLachlan and Robert Winslow’s The Housekeeper, the fourth in their Barnardo series of plays, directed by Robert Winslow.

The Housekeeper is a compelling mystery and romance and the fourth in Winslow & McLachlan’s series of plays about Barnardo children and their impact on Canadian culture and history. The story, set in 1955 in Millbrook, follows Eleanor Gwyn, who mysteriously arrives in Millbrook as she looks for a job in hopes of putting down roots, finding a place to call home and making a fresh start in her life. She comes across a housekeeper job opening from none other than widower Walter White. Is Millbrook ready for Eleanor and her progressive world views? The Housekeeper ponders the duality of the welcoming and easy nature of small towns, with how small towns can be suspicious of outsiders. Mature Content. Recommended 16+.

Local retired farmer, surveyor and 4th Line volunteer, the late Ben Olan, told Winslow stories of young women who came to the area to work as housekeepers for local farm families. Often, these women would be in the employ of an older widower, who badly needed domestic support. In some cases, these women married the farmer and even inherited the farm.

“I got the impression from Ben’s stories that there was a certain prejudice against these women in local circles,” explains Winslow. “This was enough to send Ian and me on our way.”

For McLachlan, Eleanor is one of the most complex characters the duo have written in their series yet.

“I've always been bored by two-dimensional characters and Eleanor certainly isn't that,” explains co-playwright McLachlan. “On the contrary, she's fascinatingly complicated - warm, loving, selfish, creative, capable - possibly - of violence. She wasn't the reason we started the play, but she was the magnet that drew me into it.”

The Housekeeper will feature Jay Davis as Walter White, who is thrilled to be making his 4th Line Theatre debut. Jay has been in several new Canadian productions throughout his 30+ year career. Canadian credits include Baco Noir, Bittergirl, Dracula, Evangeline, Maggie, Anne of Green Gables, Colours in the Storm, Little Woman and most recently the Mirvish production of Life After.

Returning to the stage as Eleanor is Julia Scaringi, who audiences may recognize from the 2023 production of Robert Winslow’s The Cavan Blazers and the 2022 production of Alex Poch-Goldin’s The Great Shadow. Also returning to 4th Line for the production are: Kiana Bromley, Matt Gilbert, Mark Hiscox, Darius Maliha-Evans and Hilary Wear. The cast will feature 22 professional and volunteer actors/musicians.

Community volunteer actors include: Kaleigh Castell, Richard Holt, Cody Inglis, Debbie Hudson, Ian McGarrett, Adam Murray, Zach Newnham, Gus O'Reilly, Ash Street, Lew Street, Hanna-Marie Toll, Evie Wallace and Gillian Woodhouse.

The creative team includes Assistant Director Hilary Wear, Costume Designer Bonnie Garland, Set Designer Esther Vincent, Musical Director and Composer Justin Hiscox and Sound Designer Steáfán Hannigan, and Fight Director Edward Belanger. The stage management team includes Gailey Monner and Mikayla Stoodley.

For more information or to purchase tickets, gift certificates, charcuterie snack boxes or to make a donation, call the box office at 705-932-4445, or toll-free at 1-800-814-0055 or visit www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, email boxoffice@4thlinetheatre.on.ca or visit our Box Office & Administrative Centre: 9 Tupper Street, Millbrook, ON.