Cloverdale鈥檚 Linda McRae is currently directing a play that was two years in the making.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is running at the White Rock Players theatre until Feb. 19. The play is about a boy with autism who attempts to solve the mystery of a murdered dog.

鈥淭his story is precious to me because I鈥檝e been a caregiver with people on the spectrum and I have a grandson who is on the spectrum,鈥� said McRae. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen first hand the challenges that families face, but also the delightful joys.鈥�

McRae said the story isn鈥檛 so much about autism, but about how someone with autism sees the world.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a coming of age story of a 15-year-old boy. I believe this story will help people understand a little better what it means to be on the autistic spectrum and develop a little more compassion and patience.鈥�

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White Rock Players asked McRae to direct Curious Incident in the summer of 2019. McRae, who鈥檚 been teaching drama for 26 years, had no idea the play was about a kid with autism when she said 鈥榶es.鈥� But as she started reading the script, she got excited. McRae teaches drama to kids and that includes kids with developmental disabilities.

鈥淚t was quite surprising,鈥� she said. 鈥淓specially because White Rock Players had no idea about my teaching, but it just felt like the right fit.鈥�

McRae had never directed for White Rock Players before, but was quite involved with Surrey Little Theatre having moved to Cloverdale from Chilliwack in 2008.

When Surrey Little Theatre was still operating out of their building in Clayton Heights, McRae was teaching some theatre programs there and directing Christmas shows.

As for Curious Incident, rehearsals were moving along smoothly until the middle of March 2020.

鈥淭he president of the theatre company walked in one day and said, 鈥楾his rehearsal is illegal,鈥欌�� she said with a laugh. 鈥淪o, we got shut down, and a few false starts in between, but this play has been a long time coming and we鈥檙e very excited that we鈥檙e finally getting to perform it.鈥�

McRae said the play is not something one would usually see at a local theatre. She鈥檚 using minimal set design with a lot of special effects. And the play has 58 scenes.

鈥淭here are very few theatres around that could put this performance on because of the lighting and special effects,鈥� said Tom Taylor, formerly of Surrey Little Theatre.

Taylor said he鈥檚 proud of McRae and what she does for the community in both directing local theatre and in teaching drama to young people.

鈥淪he has a stick-with-it-ness that a lot of people don鈥檛 have. Many would have walked away. But she鈥檚 put together a wonderful play.鈥�

Taylor said he knows the adversity McRae鈥檚 faced trying to put the play on for the past two years. Part of that was replacing half the cast.

鈥淚鈥檝e never seen a director put as much time and dedication, in so many different facets, as Linda has for this play. I think she needs to be recognized.鈥�

When The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time wraps next week McRae will once again be teaching.

In Chilliwack, she teaches drama classes at Greendale Community School on Tuesdays as well as two classes for adults with developmental disabilities on Thursdays. Greendale classes begin in April.

In 91原创, McRae teaches at the new 91原创 Little Theatre (now that Surrey Little Theatre amalgamated with 91原创 Players). 鈥淐lasses that were once held in Cloverdale are now moved to 91原创,鈥� she said.

91原创 Little Theatre will be holding two weeks of Spring Drama Camps from March 14 to March 25. In week one, McRae will teach 鈥淭heatre Peeps鈥� (ages 6 to 11). 鈥淎dventures in stagecraft doing role play, improv, mime, crafts, music and movement,鈥� she explained. 鈥淐hildren will build creativity, self esteem, confidence and teamwork in a safe environment.鈥�

In week two, McRae will teach a class called 鈥淪cared Scriptless鈥� (ages 12 and up). McRae said teens will 鈥渓earn to express freely and creatively while they build confidence and self esteem.鈥�

For more info on classes in Chilliwack at Greendale, email: coordinator@gecss.com; for more info on classes at 91原创 Little Theatre, email: info@langleylittletheatre.org.

editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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