91原创 families can enjoy an upcoming TWU theatre show from the comfort and safety of home.

WROL (Without Rule Of Law) is being presented by Trinity Western University early next month 鈥� in a COVID-friendly format that many theatre companies have had to adapt during the pandemic.

It鈥檚 a darkly comic coming-of-age story, explained Angela Konrad, theatre professor and WROL director. It鈥檚 a tale about strength and survival 鈥� led by the imagination and grit of four female tweens.

鈥淭he play鈥檚 mystery and humour, seriousness and optimism, strike the perfect tone for this time,鈥� she said.

As the world faces climate crisis, racial unrest, and a pandemic, WROL could not be more relevant, according to Konrad, who described it as a 鈥渟urprisingly apt choice for this season.

鈥淲hen we chose it, the pandemic was underway but we did not realize how much it would still be our reality right now.鈥�

WROL was written by Canadian playwright Michaela Jeffery, and first premiered in fall 2019.

鈥淗ow intriguing and spooky it is when a play mirrors reality, she added.

鈥淭his play is absolutely perfect for such a time as this,鈥� said Konrad, a TWU alum who directs for Vancouver鈥檚 Pacific Theatre and is the founding artistic director of Vancouver鈥檚 Dark Glass Theatre.

Konrad said she 鈥渃an鈥檛 wait鈥� to share this play with the world.

The play鈥檚 characters demonstrate that sometimes, the innocent are the wiser.

鈥淗earing the voices of these young people, who are paying attention to the world around them in a way the grown-ups aren鈥檛, is inspiring,鈥� said Konrad, who admitted making theatre during COVID-19 has been a test of creativity.

鈥淥ur goal was to rehearse like theatre and film it like film, in order to preserve some of the best of both media,鈥� Konrad explained. 鈥淭hat worked out better than we could have imagined, even though we were making it up as we went along!鈥�

Was social distance a hurdle for actors?

With proper health precautions 鈥渨e were able to rehearse more-or-less normally,鈥� Konrad said.

鈥淭he actors stayed at least six feet apart (except in instances where they are in the same bubble) and all crew wore masks.鈥�

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鈥淲e took regular rehearsal breaks and aired out the room. There were a couple places (where) we needed to adjust the movement suggested in the script to a pandemic reality; but it lent itself to that really well, so it was a pretty smooth process,鈥� she said.

Hannah Nicolle, a fourth-year student seeking an arts, media, and culture major, is helping Konrad direct the play and is editing this film.

鈥淭his play is about a group of passionate, independent kids, who are used to not being listened to, finally taking matters into their own hands,鈥� said Nicolle, who graduated from 91原创鈥檚 own R.E. Mountain Secondary.

鈥淚t is about relationship, justice, growth, and love, with a dash of humour for good measure,鈥� she said.

As for the play鈥檚 COVID-19 adaptations, Nicolle said, 鈥淚 love getting the ability to put a stage show onto a screen. Making films is what I love to do, and to do so with such a talented cast and artistic director is such a privilege.鈥�

Nicolle is up for the challenge.

鈥淭he fact that this is all new to us and we are all able to stumble through it together is what makes it fun.鈥�

She is inspired by the strength of the play鈥檚 four female lead characters.

鈥淭hey have such a heart for doing right by people society has wronged, and to see them grow in that journey and in their relationships really resonates with me.鈥�

Actors shine in COVID-adapted theatre

鈥淭his play is about the fight between the collective power and individual power,鈥� said Allen Qiu a third year student from Vancouver, who plays Robbie.

鈥淚t is also about giving young women a voice, listening to and trusting them.鈥�

Qiu is also the play鈥檚 only male character.

鈥淎t times I feel like I鈥檓 in a Little Women production,鈥� he admitted. Audiences can watch for the transformation of Allen鈥檚 character, Robbie, after he survives being inside 鈥渢he pit.鈥�

Lani-Marie Carbonel, from Coquitlam, stars in the play as Sarah.

A fourth-year student majoring in music and acting, Carbonel said: 鈥淭his play is about not being afraid to use your own voice to uplift your beliefs and take care of the people you care about.鈥�

Cassiel Cao, a fifth-year theatre major from China, stars as Jo.

鈥淲ROL is a revelation, especially for girls,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s I explored the story, I couldn鈥檛 help thinking about what kind of future we should create for ourselves and our children.鈥�

Cao believes that the apocalyptic mood of the play surprisingly reveals a 鈥減ossibility of redemption.鈥�

After months of preparation, TWU students will share this COVID-adapted theatre with the world starting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. The opening night will include a behind-the-scenes featurette and Zoom talkback with the cast and directors.

Following the premiere, WROL is available via video-on-demand from Dec. 2 through 13.

For tickets or info, people can visit: . Patrons will receive a viewing link and access code by email.

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