The curtains are set to raise on the Bowen Island Community Centre’s first ever theatrical performance.
Dancing at Lughnasa will have the honour of being the first play to grace the new stage at the Bowen Theatre. There have already been several successful music shows at the venue during its opening month, and now it’s time to set the scene for script work.
The script in question was written by Irish writer Brian Friel in 1990. Dancing at Lughnasa takes place in rural Ireland during Summer 1936 and follows the story of five sisters as they navigate life and relationships with each other, two men, and one boy who play a consequential role in their lives. While most of the play takes place among these eight characters, there are also significant monologues by a grown-up version of the boy as he recounts events from his perspective later in life.
Martin Clarke is the director of the Theatre on the Isle production and is eager for the audience to experience the many feelings the journey provokes. “It’s a beautiful play, it encompasses a great range of acting techniques and ability. It has humour, it has sadness, it has beauty, it has anger. It has the enormous range of human emotions which go through living together for many years,” says Clarke.
“And eventually you will see how that is resolved, or not resolved.”
Veterans of the Bowen theatre scene may have had a bell go off when seeing the title – this play was actually performed here before in 1997, a production also directed by Clarke. Three of the feature characters from that edition remain well-known on Bowen today – Colleen O’Neil, Rosie Montgomery, and Tina Nielsen. In fact, Nielsen is now chief librarian at the building which served as the venue for the original showing, prior to assuming its current home as the Bowen Island Public Library.
This time around many of the roles are played by newcomers to Island theatre including Paola Qualizza, Molly Horton and Erik Larson. Claudia Schaefer will take the stage with other actors for the first time – she performed a monologue in her first show Talking With – while the remaining cast is rounded out by veterans Calder Stewart, Morgan Darcy, Tina Overbury and Trevor Campbell.
Another character of sorts plays a key role in the play – an antique radio named Marconi. Generously donated to the show by Julie Vik, the sounds emanating from Marconi (and sometimes the lack thereof) highlight many of the relationships on the stage.
“Marconi is somewhat unreliable, but what he does do – well he brings a lot of music into their lives, which can cause confusion and also love,” says Clarke of the radio’s effect on the five sisters.
Moving into the Bowen Theatre offers the chance for an elevated level of stage design, perhaps most notably in the form of a set. While the confines of a Collins Hall or similarly sized venue haven’t offered this opportunity over the years, Dancing at Lughnasa will be able to feature large pieces such as walls and doors in addition to the usual smaller props. Keith Davidson, who is well experienced in the craft, has been busy crafting the cottage and garden where the show takes place.
As the title implies, dancing is also a crucial element of the show. Shauna Moran, who helped teach dance numbers to cast members in Bard on the Rock’s performance of The Tempest earlier this year, has been working to bring some of Lughnasa’s feature dances to life – including an intimate waltz which serves as a pivotal plot point. The theatre’s new lighting and sound systems will also help to show off all of the play’s key moments.
Opening Night for Dancing at Lughnasa is next Friday, May 30. It’s the first of four shows total, the following taking place Saturday, May 31, Friday, June 6, and Closing Night on Saturday, June 7. All shows start at 7 pm at the Bowen Island Community Centre. Tickets are $25 and are available through Theatre on the Isle’s Facebook page or the Eventbrite website.
