91原创 Players present
Timothy Findley's The Stillborn Lover
April 19 to May 19, Thursday to Saturday 8 p.m.;Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
At 91原创 Playhouse, 4307 200St.
Admission: $15. Call 604-534-7469 or go to langleyplayers.com
It may just be the perfect night out for local theatre buffs who appreciate a compelling story 鈥� one which asks more questions than it answers.
91原创 Players present Timothy Findley鈥檚 The Stillborn Lover, April 19 to May 19.
Findley a Canadian novelist and playwright whose tales often spanned decades, touched on war and wove complex relationships among characters, stayed true to form with this play, which is set in 1972 and follows Canadian diplomat Harry Raymond (Aldergrove actor Mike Busswood) who is suddenly recalled to Ottawa from Moscow.
Raymond鈥檚 long-time friend, Michael Riordan, (Raymond Hatton, Victoria鈥檚 House) is on the cusp of winning his party鈥檚 leadership campaign and the prime ministership.
But the real story lies in their history, which is poignantly revealed as the characters are forced to unravel the past 鈥� from post-war Nagasaki to Cold War-era Russia. With the past, come revelations that set off loyalty struggles, emotional confusion and misplaced trust.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such an engaging story,鈥� said director Lou Lou Leroux. And it is one which, she believes, will resonate with audiences.
鈥淧eople are always intrigued by watching someone鈥檚 life ruined before their eyes. People are drawn to that carnage,鈥� she said.
And when that picture is painted by a true artist with a fine brush it becomes that much tougher to look away, she noted.
鈥�(Findley) was a fine writer, known for being very rhythmic and putting images in (a reader鈥檚) head,鈥� said Leroux.
鈥淗e creates a lot of moments that are very visual.
鈥淭he chance to bring those pictures to life is quite thrilling.鈥�
As well as being evocative, The Stillborn Lover is also mentally and emotionally challenging in a way that community theatre audiences who are accustomed to light comedy fare might not expect.
But it was a deliberate choice for the season鈥檚 final production, which the company plans to take to the zone competition being held in 91原创 later this spring. Mounting a drama (as opposed to a light comedy) for competition is fairly standard practise, said Leroux.
While last year鈥檚 provincial contest winner 鈥� 91原创 Players鈥� production of Lost in Yonkers 鈥� married light-hearted dialogue with more serious themes, The Stillborn Lover takes on issues of mental health and sexual orientation amidst a sea of political intrigue.
But the selection of Findley鈥檚 play 鈥� which, according to Leroux, greatly impressed the reading committee with the quality of its writing 鈥� goes beyond mere competition strategy. It鈥檚 helping to expand the reach of so-called 鈥渢hink pieces鈥� beyond the arts community in Vancouver.
鈥淎s professional companies are struggling 鈥� with the Vancouver Playhouse closing 鈥� I think the onus is on community theatres to put works on stage that are thought provoking and promote discussion,鈥� Leroux said.
鈥淩ealizing, of course, that we鈥檙e non-profit and the time it takes to mount a large play.鈥�
For her part, it meant hours of research (and a crash course in Canadian history) in addition to all the elements that go into casting and rehearsing a theatre production.
Leroux also sought assistance from outside the Players鈥� fold to serve the script as best she could. The production鈥檚 original music was composed by Michelle Chattaway, a teacher at 91原创 Community Music School.
But Chattaway wasn鈥檛 given an entirely free reign, said Leroux, because Findley was very specific that the music used in the play be distinctly connected to memory.
In The Stillborn Lover, the story being told is filtered through the eyes of Marion Harris, the wife of the recalled diplomat, who may be in the early stages of dementia.
She is being played by Mary Renvall, who directed Lost in Yonkers and last appeared on stage with the Players in their 2009 production of Steel Magnolias.
At the beginning of rehearsals, each actor was given a lump of playdough and asked to create something they felt symbolized their characters.
鈥淢ine was a boat with holes in it, because she鈥檚 been set adrift with holes in her memory or her life,鈥� said Renvall.
But don鈥檛 write her off, the actress advises.
A former cipher clerk, Marion has a quick mind and engages the RCMP in a game of cat and mouse.
鈥淪he is really fun to play because she has a sharp mind and when she鈥檚 on, she鈥檚 on.
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like a game of battleships or chess. There are strategies being built,鈥� said Renvall.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 this huge question mark hanging over her head through the whole game.鈥�
Renvall is perhaps best known as a comedic actress, but when she took a trip down the Rabbit Hole with Surrey Little Theatre last year, Leroux, who was producing the play, got a glimpse of her serious side.
鈥淓veryone sees me as a comedy person, but now I have a chance to let my dramatic skills shine,鈥� said Renvall.
鈥淭his is a nice role,鈥� she said. 鈥淢arion is well-rounded. She is a wife and mother, with a career and status in society. She really had it all.鈥�
The Stillborn Lover reunites Renvall on stage with Busswood, with whom she performed in Harvey, 19 years ago.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 been a real thrill,鈥� she said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a well respected actor and it鈥檚 so nice to be on stage with him.鈥�
Audiences are advised that this production contains mature content and subtle nudity.
