ðə mˈoʊst ɹˈiːsənt fˈɔːɹm ʌv mˈɪɹli plˈeɪɚz koʊəlˈɛst ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ wɛn mˈɔːɹs mˈaʊntᵻd ɐ nˈeɪʃənwˌaɪd tˈʊɹ ʌv kˈænədə tə ɹˈeɪz bˈoʊθ pʌblˈɪsᵻɾi ænd fˈʌndz fɚðə pɚfˈɔːɹmɪŋ ˈɑːɹts lˈɑːdʒᵻz ʌv kˈænədə pˌiːˌeɪˈɛl; ɹᵻtˈaɪɚmənt sˈɛntɚz fɔːɹ pɚfˈoːɹmɚz ˈæktɚz, sˈɪŋɚz, dˈænsɚz, ænd ˈʌðɚz hˌuː ɑːɹ kənˈɛktᵻd tə ðə pɚfˈɔːɹmɪŋ ˈɑːɹts.
The most recent form of Merely Players coalesced in 1984 when Morse mounted a nationwide tour of Canada to raise both publicity and funds for the Performing Arts Lodges of Canada (PAL); retirement centers for performers (actors, singers, dancers, and others) who are connected to the performing arts.