New Work in Progress
Plays:
"Whistling at the Northern Lights"
Synopsis:
For the truth to set you free, you first have to be able to find it.
Whistling at the Northern Lights is the story of Caitlin and her
mother, Marilyn, a successful communications officer whose ability to manipulate
the truth knows no bounds – especially at home where her lies have drastically
affected Caitlin’s understanding of her own life. When Martin, a young
Inuit filmmaker, enters their lives he has no idea where his journey will
lead him or how complicated and treacherous the web of deceit will turn out
to be.
This play explores the dark heart of relationships based on dependency, secrets,
and lies while an age old legend of the northern lights offers both the threat
of danger and the possibility of transcendence.
Cast: 3 (two women,
22 & 38 years of age; 25 year old Inuit man)
Production History:
Whistling
at the Northern Lights premiered at the Saskatchewan Playwrights' Centre
(SPC) Spring Festival of New Plays in May 2006. (Directed by Susan
Ferley with Angela Christie as Caitlin, Cynthia Dyck as Marilyn, and Lorne
Duquette as Martin). Previous draft also workshopped with SPC Dramaturge Ben
Henderson in April 2004 the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre in April 2004.
Shortlisted for the
On the Verge 05 festival as well as for Nightwood Theatre's 2005
Groundswell Festival of New Work by Women.
Also workshopped with series of staged public readings under the title “MEMENTO
MORI” at the University of Alberta in January & February 2004. Director:
Brenda Finley (MFA Supervisor: Kim McCaw) with Caroline Livingstone (Marilyn),
Tiffani Mann (Caitlin), and Sheldon Elter (Martin).
"Peaches and Cream"
Synopsis:
Peaches and Cream unfolds on a summer night in Saskatchewan's Qu'Appelle Valley in 1963. Or does it? As Josie McClung and Lois Kisby don peach ball gowns to vie for the Peaches and Cream Cotillion prize money, we eye that fateful night through the fallible lens of memory – and the future through the rosy lens of what could have been.
N.A.S.A. lunar landings in mini-skirts? Betty Friedan on the moon? In this altered version of the "future," Josie confronts not only what could have been, she discovers how to beat the fears that have held her back -- and discovers that sometimes, when the moon is just right, it is possible to revisit the past and let love change the future.
Peaches and Cream is a warm and funny exploration of fateful choices, love and friendship, the rising tide of feminism, and the pure joy of "girl power."
Cast: 6 (9 if double-casting is not used) 4 women (2 in their early 20s, 2 in their mid-40s); 2 men (2 in their mid-20s, 3 in their mid-40s)
Production History:
Peaches and Cream
was workshopped at the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre’s 2005 Spring
Festival of New Plays with director/dramaturge Rachel Ditor and the following
cast:
Josie – Angela Christie; Lois – Amy Matysio; Mrs. Kisby –
Sharon Bakker; Betty Friedan – Christine MacInnis; Ralph/Bob/Hank –
Matt Burgess; Walter/Tommy – Tim Hildebrand.
Fiction: New Novel in Progress
No details for now other than to
say it's a story within a story within a story. Nesting boxes of narrative.
And it's taking a while...