Sometimes what we remember isn鈥檛 real.
A recalled event or emotion might be a half truth or a complete fabrication. Our brains, apparently, are capable of creating different, perhaps kinder, memories. And the more we remember them, the more genuine they seem.
鈥淗alf Life is a delicate mediation on age and memory, the loss of memory and memory reimagined,鈥� says Stephen Hill, director of Courtenay Little Theatre鈥檚 spring production. The play opens at the Sid Williams Theatre on April 14 and continues through the 23rd.
Half Life is a story about relationships. Clara (Kirstin Humpherys) and Patrick (Bill Walton) are both 80 when they meet in a seniors' home for veterans and their families. They aren鈥檛 sure but think they may have met in their younger years.
Clara and Patrick鈥檚 middle-aged children, Anna (Tracey Hill) and Donald (Sidney Pickard) also meet at the facility. They share the bond of caring for aging parents. But as Clara and Patrick鈥檚 relationship deepens, their children are faced with questions and decisions neither anticipated.
鈥淭he play explores the issue of what decisions are appropriate for seniors to make, especially as they develop Alzheimer鈥檚 or dementia,鈥� says Hill.
鈥淗alf Life is particularly well suited to the Comox Valley,鈥� he continues. 鈥淲e have lots of seniors, lots of veterans and lots of mid-age children caring for aging parents. It鈥檚 also a wonderful opportunity to show off the wealth of talented mature actors that live in the Valley.鈥�
Despite the topic, Hill notes that the play is very funny.鈥� 鈥淎nd it gives people something to think about when they leave the theatre. It might even convince some to initiate a conversation that many of use leave on the back burner of our busy lives.鈥�
Unlike most plays which feature a few long scenes, Half Life is composed of 14 smaller scenes, each containing a fragment of the story. Between these mini scenes the actors need to create transitions as characters move off stage into the rest of their lives and others come into focus.
鈥淢ighton didn鈥檛 write these transitions,鈥� says Hill. 鈥淭hey are challenges he presents to the actors.鈥�
Half Life was written in 2005 by University of Toronto professor, John Mighton. A self-taught mathematician and playwright, Mighton received the Order of Canada in 2010. His play won the $100,000 Siminovitch Award, as well as the Dora Award and the Governor General鈥檚 Award for Best Canadian play.
鈥淢ighton uses elegant poetic writing to engage viewers on many levels,鈥� says Hill. 鈥淭he production looks at the role of art, science and theology in shaping and helping humans get a sense of who we are and how we want to live our lives. There is something in it for young adults to seniors.鈥�
An unusual aspect of the production is that it鈥檚 the first presentation of Half Life worldwide to cast a woman in the role of the reverend.
鈥淒arilyn Keene brought something special to the audition,鈥� says Hill. 鈥淪o we got special permission from the playwright to change the script.鈥�
Hill, Director of Pastoral Care at St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital, is no newcomer to the theatre himself. As a young man he worked for seven years as a professional actor in Ontario and London. Then an experience with L鈥橝rche Homes made him re-evaluate what he wanted to do with his life.
鈥淢y wife and I were attracted by the incredibly rich landscape, culture and lifestyle of the Comox Valley,鈥� he says. 鈥淎fter we moved here I was invited to play the detective in Courtenay Little Theatre鈥檚 Mousetrap. I鈥檓 really enjoying being involved in the theatrical world again.鈥�
Half Life begins at 7:30 each evening with a matinee at 2 p.m. on April 16. CLT is donating proceeds from the matinee to the PARC Project at the Views at St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital. PARC鈥檚 goal is to create more space for physical activities for those living in what was formerly called extended care.
