Don’t expect a lot of laughs and a happy ending at “Down From Heaven,” the first Theatre XTra because life isn’t like that. The four person play opens at the David Spinks Theatre Sept. 26-28 at 8 p.m. each night.
“It’s a very intense drama,” summarized director Erinn Watson.
“It was written by Colleen Wagner who was inspired by the SARS outbreak in 2003 in Toronto where she was living,” she continued.
“ So it is about the outbreak of a disease. A family has been quarantined in their home by a man who used to be their gardener but who is now a member of the secret police force which has been created because of the rioting and the complete chaos that resulted,” she continued.
“He’s the only one who knows they’re there and who brings them food and information, except he will only speak to their 16-year-old daughter.”
Watson was drawn to the play because of the darker subject matter.
“Life doesn’t usually have a neatly tied up happy ending,” she said.
“I also appreciated that something like this could happen at any time. It’s all completely plausible,” she continued.
“Because life isn’t always sunshine and flowers and puppies,” she continued.
She first discovered the play through Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary.
“ As soon as I read it I knew I had to direct it,” she enthused.
She has enjoyed her first directing experience since her being assistant director in the Rocky Horror Show last year.
“It has been wonderful, though not without its challenges,” she said.
“ The biggest challenge is that it is so dark that after rehearsal the actors and crew are in a very dark mood.”
“I have a great crew, stage managers and actor who have put something together that I’m really proud of,” she enthused adding two of the actors, Tyler Grier and Emily Schoen are first year students who auditioned for the play on their very first day of university. Jordan Payne and Kirsten Braumandl round out the cast.
“If you’re go in, you might as well go in deep,” she said.
“I’m a first year drama major , so I just wanted to audition to let them know ‘hey, here I am.’ ” said Tyler Grier who plays the antogonist Cheater, the gardener/ secret policeman, jailer.
I wasn’t expecting to get it. But I was thrilled to learn I got it,” he said.
He hadn’t heard of the play before audition, but quickly read a copy of it in between the first audition and the callback.
“ I liked really digging deep into the deepest part of myself. (Playing a character like this) is a stretch for me, but it’s rewarding though, he said.
Tickets for TheatreXtra’s first production of their season are available at the University Box Office, Monday – Friday 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm, or by calling (403) 329-2616. Individual tickets are $12 regular, $10 seniors/alumni, and $8 students. Tickets are also available online: uleth.ca/tickets.
