Beverley Elliott characterizes her one-woman autobiographical “song and story” show Sink or Swim as “Little House on the Prairie meets Lord of the Flies”.

That’s in part because it traces her journey from the insular, happy world of growing up on an Ontario family farm to life with classroom bullies at a one-room schoolhouse.

However you describe it, you can’t help but be charmed by the openness and honesty of Elliott’s play, which was chosen last year as a holdover at the Pick of the Fringe.

The pro, best-known as Granny on the hit TV series Once Upon a Time, also has singing and storytelling chops to burn. Catch it at Richmond’s Gateway Theatre from Thursday (November 16) to November 25.