HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-11-05, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009. PAGE 7.
Just a little...
Just a little pin prick and these seniors were ready for cold
and flu season after getting vaccinated at last week’s
seasonal flu shot clinic at Grey Central Public School. The
clinic was for residents over 65 years old. Bernice
Rettinger was one of the first in line, getting her shot from
Amy Leduc. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Continued from page 1warning.”The story claims that later in theday someone returned to the churchto find Pearl going through theservice herself. “That image is so
potent and Gary latched on to it. He
knew he wanted to write it in some
way.”
However Coates adds, Kirkham
also wanted to write something
about conscientious objectors.
“When he told me that I said that
was funny because I’d just gotten a
phone call from Tony McQuail
asking me why we didn’t do
something on that very thing.”
Kirkham, said Coates, meshes thetwo ideas together with Pearl, nowelderly, living with her sister, andtaking in boarders, among them ayoung man from the U.S. As thewomen begin to learn more about
him, he begins to dig up things from
their past.
Rounding out the season is the
Book of Esther. Written by Leanna
Brodie, who penned another Blyth
play, Schoolhouse, the story has
“deliberately strong Old Testament
overtones,” said Coates.
“The focus is on Huron County’s
number one export, our youth.”
The intent, said Coates was to
write a story about a youth who runsaway to city. “Because she’s Leanna,she doesn’t like to make thingssimple for herself or me,” saidCoates, smiling. “She wanted thetrigger point to be a crisis of faith.”
The play opens in Toronto where
the teenager has taken refuge in a
safe house, owned by middle-aged
man who’s from the same village.
“His agenda is not to keep them from
returning home, but to give them a
safe haven in the meantime.”
The man, who is gay, turns out to
have a complicated history with thegirl’s fundamentalist Christianparents. “There is a whole quagmire ofpossibilities. The point of the play ishow to keep your kids close.”
Despite the religious overtones,
Coates said Brodie tackles the
subject with an even hand. “She’s
avoided the temptation of creating
the faith community as scary or
fanatic. She provides a balanced
platform for fervent Christians and
for those who have questions.”
Coates said the intent is not to beprovocative for the sake of being so,but to give a balanced forum for allpoints of view. “And create a goodplay while we’re doing it.”All three of the writers for the new
plays are on their second play with
Coates. “So in terms of my personal
goals as artistic director, I’ve
achieved one, to give a new
generation of playwrights a foothold
here. And Bordertown shows it’s not
at the expense of the people who
help to build this place.”
Playwright meshes ideas for Pearl’s story