By Melanie Minty, arts columnist
SURREY — “Lest we forget” is the motto and slogan for Remembrance Day, the one day designated to remember what war, conflict and hostility toward another race, culture or country can do to the human race. We have made little progress. Maybe even none. We still hold hate in our hearts, meanness in our minds. We suffer. We still make war against our enemies. And sometimes that enemy is within.
“Lest we forget” is the theme of Peninsula Productions’ next staged reading, Incident at Vichy, by Arthur Miller. This very tense drama is set in the Second World War – See? We don’t ever learn – and follows a group of men detained in Vichy, France, for a “racial” inspection by German military officers. It could be today. It could be a different war. It could be different soldiers. Lest we forget.
Directed by Dean Paul Gibson, this presentation should be seen by everyone. Wearing a poppy is just not enough. We have to learn anew, and remember. Gibson spent his formative years in White Rock and is a grad of Earl Marriott Secondary. He found his direction in life when he worked with his high school drama teacher, Rick Harmon, and choreographer Carol Seitz. Gibson has gone on to act and direct internationally. His work has been seen on stages across Canada, most recently at Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach, where he is an associate. I love his work. It has humour and a deep sense of caring about the condition of the human race. Here are his words on the subject:
“Having the opportunity to direct this reading for Peninsula Productions has allowed me to immerse myself, along with a splendid assembly of artists, to learn about another compelling story by an American master playwright of the 20th century,” he says. “Incident at Vichy serves as potent reminder of the profoundly criminal atrocities committed by the Nazis and their ilk during a very tense and violent period in our history.”
Gibson has more to say about it.
“Arthur Miller’s smart and insightful play captures some of that ‘divisive hate’ while still giving us a glimmer of hope to hang on to the humanity that emerges in the worst of circumstances,” he adds. “As many are deeply aware, hatred comes in all different colours, creeds and beliefs and threatens to destroy much of what is beautiful in this world. Our differences, for instance. It is up to each and every one of us to stand up for what is right and good and not allow the awful transgressions of others to win.”
(COLUMN CONTINUES BELOW)
This is definitely not a pretty, feel-good play. But it is a voice that needs to be heard, lest me forget. Show tickets are $15. The first performance is at Peninsula Productions’ studio (14600 North Bluff Rd., White Rock) on Sunday, Nov. 12, followed by Surrey City Hall’s Centre Stage theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 15, an 8 p.m. start.
The easiest way to acquire tickets is to go to the company’s website, peninsulaproductions.org. You can easily follow the buttons to buy tickets online. We are living in a web world. And just a reminder, if you opt for the Centre Stage show, you will have to pay for parking using a credit card. Sometime, I would like the city to look at this situation. This is Surrey. We are free, at least from parking charges. Or, make an evening parking charge that is nominal so people can go and enjoy the events at Centre Stage. It’s a thought.
Staged readings are becoming a popular form of play presentations. It is a bit more than people sitting in front of an audience reading from a script. But it is less than a full production with sets, costumes, memorized lines by the actors, and all the rest. That does mean, however, that each actor that is selected to read must totally understand the character and be exceptional in vocal control. Not everyone can do it, or at least not do it well.
The “readers theatre” people of Naked Stage Productions Society (nakedstage.net) are holding auditions for the company’s upcoming production of Jacques Plante and the Parkdale Knitting League, written by Paul McLaughlin and directed by Colleen McGoff Dean. Auditions are on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Newton Cultural Centre, 13530 72nd Ave., Surrey. Casting is for four men and two women. A French-Canadian accent is required for one male character and one female character. No previous acting experience required. Auditions include a one- to two-minute prepared reading of your choice, and cold readings. Performances will run from March 8 to 11, 2018. For further information, contact Colleen McGoff Dean at colleenswrpc@gmail.com.
Naked Stage is community theatre, so anyone who is not Actors Equity can audition. You are paid in applause. Jim Trimble, one of the founders of Naked Stage, and a new Surrey Civic Treasure, says to come out and audition, even if you have (or haven’t) previously auditioned for Naked Stage. This could be for you. Practice by reading aloud to your kids from a favourite book. There are so many things we need to remember and pass along. Oh, and do wear a poppy.
