The play takes place at a University in an Ontario small
town. An author is appointed to the post of writer-in-residence.
He meets a repressed professor of literature and one of her
students. The plot and dialogue were good and the casting,
excellent! The three actors, kept us smiling and laughing all the
way through. The play was directed by Libby Barratt and
produced by Katherine Weary.
David Potter and Corina Lupo.
Charles Martin, the author was played by David Potter, who
with his perfect articulation, and absolutely comic facial
expressions, gave a great performance of the writer, who “likes food
you can pour” and the “love of his life” is the typewriter! But he
sits and stares at blank papers.
Professor Myra Fitzpatrick and the academic Moira Fitzsimmons were
both played by Corina Lupo. She flawlessly verbalized her
literary research findings, which the author called “Intellectual
Herpes”. She observed "You are like a squirrel. You collect people
that you meet as though they were nuts."
Potter and Lupo were joined by
Anita Stranzl who played Bobbi
Roy, the peppy student, who needed help with an essay in order to
continue her studies, yet she helps the two academics to shed their
blockages.
The author states: “It would be nice if life could be arranged like
books.” This play does it. As the story unfolds, the professor who
completes her manuscript about the work of the author Charles
Martin, admits to being in love with him, he responds likewise and
goes on to tell their story in his new book entitled “Papers.” And,
the student lands a summer job, writing for the newspaper of her
hometown.
The cast received a hearty applause and flowers too! These actors
already have quite a few fans who return annually to see them
perform.
Revenues from the three performances (May 26, 27 & 28) would go
towards two evenings of Theatre-in-the-Park, August 4th and 5th,
2006, at ski Morin Heights.
Opening night, Friday
26 May 2006.
There are over
35 other people involved in yet another very good production of Theatre
Morin Heights. The room was full of people who are really grateful
for the ceaseless efforts of this group of dedicated people. (Sorry about the blurred images, I
mistakenly had the camera in Video mode.)
Thank you All!
My
observations: Lights out... A pleasant romantic
piece of music plays a wonderful introduction. That's it....no
more musical background!
After the first scene, I
thought that the whole play was concluded in that one scene, which was a
bit lengthy, though the dialogue was quite good in parts. The
following scenes were much better.
As the play progressed, I thought, well, if they would only have found a
way to cut off parts of the first scene, the production would have been
perfect. I also felt that two
instances of Moira Fitzsimmons, the Academic, were superfluous. Some passages of the dialogue were
outrageously funny (I just jotted down a few words in the dark):
David Potter/Charles Martin-Author:
"If it were not for drink there would have been no Irish
literature".... "I like food you can pour!"....Corina Lupo/Myra
Fitzpatrick-Professor: "You are like a squirrel. You collect
people that you meet as though they were nuts"....Corina Lupo:
"..."But you are not
a stranger! I have read your books!." .....David Potter: "Am I supposed to
be grateful? David Potter: "Intellectual
Herpes"...."Like a contest who could understand each other the least." "It
would be nice if life could be arranged like books." "....and I
sit and I stare....", (about
staring at a blank sheet of paper. I could sympathise with that one of
course).
The
cast takes a bow opening night
Nature's Victory Nov. 4, 2005.
Nature's Victory,
by Don Stewart, opened November 4th, 2005.
Good plot, good script, funny, heart warming, not a dull moment.
The printed program describes the play as follows: "A historical look at
life in the 19th century in our local area. The settling of the area,
struggles to farm this land, the "Two Solitudes", and the strife of being
young in a growing "new" country. The play was produced by Theatre
Morin Heights in honour of the 150th Anniversary of the Municipality of
Morin Heights." The program also contains this text: "The
play "Nature's Victory", written by Don Stewart, was inspired
by the out-of-print 1969 novel called "Land Possessed."
This
novel was written by the late Margaret Cook and was set in nearby
Shrewsbury (the Gore) of the 19th century. Further inspiration for the
play was provided by the late Patricia Good, fifth generation
Shrewsbury artist and creator of a painting entitled "Nature's Victory".
A play in 3 acts.
Directed by Katherine Weary. Produced by Penny Rose. The cast:
Sam Kirby - Graham Carpenter, Sheila Kirby - Carolynn Barnes, Norah Kirby -
Janet Sallie, Denis Trudeau - Lee-Ann Mascis, Rev. Thompson - Lorne Barratt,
Mr. Harmon, Willy Ladik, James Morton - Steve Friedman, Arthur Burns - Neil
Matheson, John Small - Travis Caron, Geneviève Tremblay - Maria McCarthy,
Norah Kirby-Tremblay - Libby Barratt.
The program lists 39 names
of volunteers who devoted time to this production.
Thank
you all!
What came up to my mind at
the conclusion of the evening was that this play should be performed
across Canada, and perhaps submitted to the Quebec English Writers annual
competition.
Colours
and dimensions may be slightly different from the original.
