HALDIMAND—Fewer people were hit harder during the pandemic than the residents of long-term care homes and facilities. With that in mind, local duo ‘Synchronicity’ has created a musical partnership designed to bring some joy back to those homes.
Formed in November 2022, the duet includes Meredith Wood and Nara Farrell, two long-time friends who met during a production of ‘Mary Poppins’ in Port Dover six years ago.
“We stayed friends for years,” said Wood. “I was asked to perform at a Halloween show and I asked her if she wanted to do it with me.”
From there, Synchronicity was born.
“Coming out of Covid, people were still really cautious about having parties and gatherings, and Nara had already performed in care facilities, so we figured ‘why not see if they would be interested in us coming to perform,’” said Wood.
Each year, the duo creates a set of themed shows they can perform through the year, listing shows for Valentine’s Day, Canada Day, Halloween, and Christmas for 2024, in addition to three special shows they can perform on request.
“We have three specialty themes. Right now, we have one where it’s all movie musical numbers, so songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, the kind of shows these people in these facilities would have watched with their parents or shared with their children. They love it.”
“Then, we have an oldies show we do in the fall, and we have a comedy show, where it’s all silly fun songs and dances, little skits and plays that we throw in there,” Wood continued, noting how the shows are designed to be interactive. “We sing and play music at the same time, but we’ll also sing to background tracks so we can get up and do some dances or play the spoons and the shakers.”
“The need is so great that it’s become almost exclusively what we do,” she said, noting how she sees the impact of the music firsthand. “I remember a woman in the very back, all hunched over. We introduced ourselves and started our show, and she sat up and put her arms in the air and waved them, and then when the song ended she would curl back up. With every song, she would unfurl and dance…. I remember the nurses saying ‘we can never get her to interact with us or do anything’. They were so delighted.”
She touted Synchonicity’s unique ability “to make a connection”, in part thanks to their theatrical background lending to new and exciting ways to connect with each crowd.
“We love what we do,” she said.
While the pair keep busy, routinely performing at homes like Anson Place and Parkview Meadows, they want to perform for even more residents. However, many facilities don’t have a budget to support their work.
“It’s sad because it means they’re not getting professional entertainment,” said Wood. “The heart of the people who do it for free is so wonderful, but it does mean the homes aren’t getting the same quality of show.”
To that end, the duo is hoping to involve local businesses, offering a sponsorship program for their chosen home.
“They would pay the fee for the show, in exchange for some recognition for their contribution within the home,” said Wood, citing examples such as notices in a community newsletter, or a sign out front advertising that the business provided entertainment. She noted that the sponsorship program is only available to “small facilities with limited budgets” to ensure they reach new audiences.
For more information on how to sponsor a performance, call 226-534-9652 or send an email to synchronicityduo@hotmail.com.
