This new work-in-progress is a moving and uplifting play about learning to follow your heart, even when it feels like you might be on a wild goose chase, and about learning to love, even when people change beyond recognition — yourself included.

 

Cass’s heart is in the right place but as a perpetually texting and tweeting current affairs columnist she rarely sits still long enough to hear what it’s trying to tell her. Which is how she almost misses it telling her to take another hard look at her dad, Sam, and see not just the independent and indomitable farmer she’s always known him to be but the frail and vulnerable man he’s become since the death of her mom.

But Sam is the last man on earth who’d ever admit he needed help. What’s more, Cass suspects he’d especially not want to accept help from her – the wayward daughter who never quite lived up to expectations. Fuelling her resentment, Cass is convinced her dad has never fully accepted her wife Zoe and, therefore, never fully accepted her.

But Cass has grown up steeped in wild goose lore – learning from her dad early on that when one goose falls behind because of weakness or injury, another in the flock will always drop back to stay with the lone goose until it’s strong enough to continue the journey.

So when Sam’s health deteriorates, Cass and Zoe invite Sam to come live with them “temporarily” – just until he’s back on his feet. Which, of course, is not how things go. As Sam’s health worsens and Cass and Zoe move forward with their plans to start a family, Cass starts to stumble in her new life as a caregiver and fears she just may be blowing up her life on all fronts, professional and personal.

• Nanaimo News Article, “Nanaimo playwright presents staged reading of newest play at Port Theatre” 
• Port Theatre – Staged Reading of “Wild Geese”