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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-09-05, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013. PAGE 23. Since the Blyth Festival began producing plays in its Phillips Studio on Dinsley Street, the word consistently used to describe the space is “intimate”. Well, the intimacy of the Phillips Studio is on full display this week with the Festival production of Gary Kirkham’s Falling: A Wake. At the book release party on Friday night after the Festival premiere of Falling: A Wake, Kirkham told those in attendance that his play was initially written for a small theatre in Kitchener. It was then only fitting that Falling: A Wake was produced in Blyth at the Phillips Studio and not on the Memorial Hall stage. There is no need for amplification and there is no need for, as Director Peter Smith put it at the aforementioned party, “big theatre voices” in the Phillips Studio. Subtle, intimate tones spoken between the actors make their way to the audience, making the audience not feel as though they’re watching something happen, but rather that they’re part of something as it happens. Falling: A Wake is described in theatre terms as a “two-hander” meaning that there are only two actors on the stage throughout the entire production. The description is largely true. While Festival regulars Tony Munch and Catherine Fitch play Harold and Elsie, they are soon joined by actor Cam Laurie. He doesn’t say anything and he never moves, but his presence cannot be understated. The married couple in their 50s figure they’ve seen a shooting star in the sky one quiet night on their farm in the “non-descript edge of nowhere” as Harold likes to put it; only because if it was the middle of nowhere, he says, it would be easier to find. One large explosion later Harold and Elsie realize they are no longer alone on their property as the soft illumination of a flashlight soon reveals the form of a young man, still strapped into his airline seat, but no longer among the living. The inspiration behind the play is personal to playwright Kirkham, whose childhood best friend Paul was killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Paul was one of the first bodies to be found after the 1988 incident, in a farmer’s field still seated in his chair. After years of wrestling with a variety of emotions, not the least among them anger, a fluid story began to formulate in Kirkham’s head and he knew he wanted to tell a story inspired by his friend Paul. What worried him, however, was that the story forming in his mind, oddly enough to him, was taking shape as a comedy. It wasn’t until he spoke to Paul’s mother that he was given the green light to write. Paul’s mother encouraged Kirkham to write his homage to Paul, but insisted it be a comedy. “Anything else would be too depressing,” she told him. Kirkham drew heavily from Paul’s mother, saying that his character of Elsie is largely based on her. In Falling: A Wake, Elsie is a sweet woman who has no qualms with talking to the dead. Fitch is perfect for the role, a sweet, caring woman who seems to put everyone’s needs and feelings above her own. This is Elsie, almost to a fault, as it becomes clear that there is pain and sadness bubbling under the surface. Harold is a retired professor who still carries the teaching gene. Eager to educate, Harold is always enlightening those around him, even when they don’t ask him to. As Elsie insists she doesn’t want to leave the dead man alone in their yard while they wait for the inevitable flood of emergency responders, Harold strives to make her as comfortable as possible on the cool, clear night. It starts with a chair from their living room, and Harold continues to bring items from the couple’s home out into the yard until he’s assured that Elsie is completely comfortable with her new friend. As Harold and Elsie’s time with the plane crash victim continues, they embark on an emotional journey that is equal parts funny, heart-breaking and cathartic as their relationship strengthens and they face shadows they have repressed, but have yet to fully exorcise. In many ways the dead man proves to be the best listener the couple could have hoped for as Harold and Elsie traverse emotional landscape we have all travelled before. With the poetic words of Kirkham and the strong, yet subtle performances of Munch and Fitch the audience is forced along on their emotional journey, whether they want to go or not. The Phillips Studio is a perfect match for Falling: A Wake. When Munch’s Harold loses his patience and raises his voice, the audience, like Elsie, is forced to suddenly catch its collective breath. His anger can be jarring as the natural bass in his voice attacks your chest, getting back to the very skeleton of live theatre. Munch too is perfect as Harold. He is smart and caring, yet he carries an underlying anger and rage for the pain he and his wife have been forced to endure over the course of their lives. Falling: A Wake at the Phillips Studio is like seeing a great singer at one of the great Canadian music halls; two that come to mind are Toronto’s Massey Hall and Blyth’s own Memorial Hall. There comes a time in the show when amplification is left behind and the act begs for the audience’s silence while he belts out a song with no speakers and no special effects; just an acoustic guitar and his voice. There is no electricity and no bells and whistles behind the performance. All that is left is talent and raw emotion; a bare-bones emotional journey between the person on the stage and the audience. Falling: A Wake is just that. Be ready to laugh, be ready to cry and be ready to feel exactly what the actors want you to feel if you’re lucky enough to find a ticket. Five performances of Falling: A Wake remain: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sept. 5, 8 p.m. on Sept. 6 and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sept. 7. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit the Festival’s website at www.blythfestival.com ‘Falling: A Wake’ perfectly suited for Phillips Studio Facing their demons Tony Munch, left, and Catherine Fitch, centre, are on centre stage at the Phillips Studio for Falling: A Wake. The play begins when a plane suffers a catastrophic failure in mid-air above their farm and a dead passenger, Cam Laurie, shows up in their yard intact and still strapped into his seat. The play opened on Friday night and playwright Gary Kirkham was celebrated later that night at Memorial Hall with the launch of Falling: A Wake in book form. (Terry Manzo photo) 273 Hamilton St., Blyth • 519-523-4590 www.blytheastsidedance.com Blyth East Side Dance Learn the Cha-Cha Graduation Thomas Johnston, son of Paul and Joyce Johnston graduated from the Manufacturing Engineering Technology program at Fanshawe College June 1, 2013. Thomas has accepted a full-time position at Western University Institute of Chemical Fuels and Alternative Resources. Congratulations Thomas, we are so proud of you. Love from your family Entertainment Londesborough ON.............................................www.seedforwildbirds.comnaturesnest@tcc.on.ca Advance Tickets preferred Tickets: Deb 519-440-8862 or Lisa 519-482-3118 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Get entertainment information on the Entertainment section of our website at www.northhuron.on.ca 430 Queen Street, Blyth, Ontario226-523-9720Specialty Coffees &Espresso BarLunches, fresh pies, buttermilkbiscuits, cakes, etc.