Susie Francis and the Versatiles are calling it a career.
The Cloverdale-based music and entertainment troupe are retiring from performing after nearly a quarter-century of playing gigs around Surrey, the Lower Mainland, and across B.C.
They’ll take their final bows after their show at the Cloverdale Legion on March 17.
The decision to call it quits is bittersweet for Francis. She’s saddened the Versatiles’ run is ending after 24 years, but she’s also happy to be ending on a high note with a show at the Legion.
Francis turns 80 later this year and the stress of performances and rehearsal has become too much for her and for her band members.
“Most of the crew are either in their late 70s or early 80s,” said Francis, the troupe’s director. “They’re all in the same boat as me. And when I said I was thinking about retiring, they all said, ‘Yay!’ They wanted to call it a day too.”
But everyone wants to stay connected and meet up once in a while, whenever they can, to do things together and to keep their friendships going, she added.
“I had to do it,” explained Francis, which is her stage name. Her real name is Susie Hall. “My doctor said the stress is killing me, so I have to stop.”
It’s the rehearsals and training and learning new songs—just the slog of getting up for it all—that has the 79-year-old run down.
The Versatiles plan to go out with a big Irish bang on St. Paddy’s Day. They’ve planned an entertaining show that’ll be chock-a-block with ditties from the Emerald Isle by the likes of the Irish Rovers, The Dubliners, the Clancy brothers, and more.
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“We can’t dance, cuz our legs don’t work anymore,” laughed Francis. “But we can sing and play instruments and tell Irish jokes.”
Francis also plans to do a “big giveaway” during the show. One lucky audience member will take home a special prize.
The show is free, but they’ll take donations for entry, if anyone’s inclined. However, the show really is for the community.
“The community has backed us in so many things we’ve done over the years. We just want to say thanks.”
Started in the spring of 2000, the band’s 24-year run offers Francis a lot to be thankful for. She said they’ve played so many gigs over the years, and in so many places, there are far too many memories for her to recall them all. But she did say one of her fondest memories was being in the Cloverdale Rodeo Parade and playing a show at the Cloverdale rodeo.
“It’s been a wonderful run, all our shows,” she noted. “But the year we played the rodeo really sticks in my mind. It’s very high up there in terms of fond memories. We did a Western show, a cowboy show, and it was really quite a hit.”
Francis added the Legion has been an essential contributor to the success the Versatiles have enjoyed over the past quarter century.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” she noted, as the Legion supported them, gave them a place to rehearse, and helped them with travel expenses when needed.
She said the thing she’ll miss most is the people she’s played with over the years.
“I’m going to miss all the girls and boys that were with me,” she noted. “Some of them aren’t alive anymore, which is a shame, but that’s the way it goes. The memories of doing the shows are wonderful and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Susie Francis and the Vertiles play the Cloverdale Legion, Branch No. 6, March 17 beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation. The Cloverdale Legion is located at 17567 57th Avenue.