"Goodnight Children Everywhere" comes to London, Ontario!

~ a post World War II play about lost childhood, familial roles and human nature ~

Goodnight Children Everywhere

written by Richard Nelson

coming to the Palace Theatre in London, Ontario

October 4-13, 2012

Cast (clockwise from top left): Tim Condon, Kevin Curnette, Whitney Bolam,

Heather May & Kalina Hada-Lemon (absent: Chris Albert & Clara Madrenas)

Elizabeth Newman (Director) & Heather May (Anne)



This play is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended.

Goodnight Children Everywhere takes the audience into the home of Anne, Vi and Betty (3 sisters) and Anne's husband Mike in Clapham, South London England during the Spring of 1945. These four have been living together in this small flat for some time and have become accustomed to the way of life in such small quarters.

The play starts on the day these three sisters are reunited with their brother Peter who was sent away during the Operation Pied Piper Evacuation to live in Alberta, Canada in World War II. Peter is now returning to England to live, once again, with his three sisters.

How does a family put back all the pieces? What do the words "Mother" and "Father" mean to children who were robbed of a propper childhood? How do siblings cope with the loss of both parents in war? How does one differenciate between "right" and "wrong" when so much of what has happend to them has been wrong? What happens between a brother and sister who were parted when they were children and reunited as young adults?

Each of these characters have a back story that is (by far) abonormal and challenging by today's standards. 

Mike, Anne's husband, met her through her sister Betty. Betty worked with Mike and had a crush on him. She brought him home to meet her sisters. So how did Anne end up being his wife and pregnant with his child? How does Anne cope with the ongoing flirtations between Mike and Betty?

Betty is a nurse. She is strong and responsible. She would make the perfect wife. She cooks, she cleans - so why did Mike choose Anne over Betty? Why does Betty fall for someone...like Hugh?

Hugh works with Mike at the surgery. He's loud, obnxious and like his whiskey. He sings too loudly, talks too loud and never seems to say the right thing. Are these the reasons why his wife left him for someone else or is there more to Hugh than meets the ear?

Rose is Hugh's daughter. She's pretty and obedient and "loves to go to the pictures". She is polite and always seems to say the right thing. She's realistic and has a plan for life. Peter would be crazy to pass her up - or would he be?

Peter is Anne, Betty & Vi's little brother. He has been separated from his sisters for years and is finally being reunited with them. All this time he's spent living in Canada. His accent has changed, his clothes have changed and...his body has changed. He's not the little boy he was when he left.

Vi is Anne & Betty's sister. She's young, fun and an actor. She could be considered the light in this family's darkness. What ends is she willing to go to in order to make a better life for herself? What past experiences has made her able to push through so many obstacles? What will it take to push her over the edge?

Anne, Vi & Betty's sister is, amongst other things, five-six months pregnant. She's tired, exhausted and never in the mood to 'go out'. You would think such a happy occassion as being reunited with her little brother would make her happy and jump for joy and yet, she remains quiet and still. It appears Anne is shy or afraid of saying the wrong thing. Maybe she's afraid of her husband or maybe it's just hormones. Then again, perhaps it's something deeper, that words cannot begin to describe.

~

"Goodnight Children Everywhere" promises to challenge it's audience. It is the kind of play London, Ontario has not seen for a long time. This is NOT a play for children and patrons should be warned of the mature subject matter and shocking moral content.

May this production be a reminder of a time passed that we (thankfully) do not live in or have to endure on a daily basis. May it be a tribute to all the lives affected by war in the past, present or future.

"Goodnight Children Everywhere" opens at the Palace Theatre on October 4th & productions are as follows:

October 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th & 13th in Procunier Hall at 8pm.

For more information or for tickets, please call the Palace Theatre Box Office at (519) 432-1029.
Tickets are $15

2012 ~ Going into Business for ME!

I have seen the light!

Working part-time, on-call, on a temporary basis for minimum wage

is NOT going to fund my theatre company.

Strange.

Earlier this month, I was invited to a business launch party for a local theatre friend of mine, Martha Zimmerman.  Martha is an equity actor who lives in London, Ontario and for as long as I've known her - she's been an actor. Acting is what she loves to do and is something she is truly passionate about. She has been an inspiration to me and others in the local theatre community.  I also attended one of her classes on Shakespeare and was truly amazed at how she got me and the other students excited about a text I never thought I'd understand let alone be excited about.

Martha's business launch party was to announce her start with a skin care company which sells botanically-based, 100% Vegan & PETA-approved products. She has decided that she wants to continue her work as an actor but refuses to work a 9-5 job where she must report to the "head cheese" and do what they say when they say it for as much (or as little) as they decide to pay ~ in order to pay the bills.

I had decided before arriving at this business launch that I would purchase one or two products to support Martha in her new business but that I wouldn't let myself get too excited in the business opportunity.  That changed very quickly.

When I learned that the products were Vegan - at first, I didn't really see just what that meant. Then I learned a company can sell a product which was not tested on animals but still contain animal bi-products. Gross! I am not a vegetarian however the thought of lathering up with a body lotion which contains animal fat, for some reason, grosses me out! I also discovered that none of their products contain artificial colours or frangrances which have always seemed to cause breakouts on my body.

I have decided to join Martha and her team on this journey to something better.

There are 3 reasons why I am sharing this exciting news on my theatre blog:

#1. I want to tell everyone my plans and goals and reasons for joining this company publicly.

#2. I want to set-out clear expectations for myself and keep the goal of improving my theatre company in sight.

#3. I want to ensure all my friends, family and theatre supporters that I will not become a "crazy Avon lady" and I will not knock on anyone's door to join my business or buy the products.

I've tried the products and love 'em and I believe in Martha. That's why I've chosen this fresh start.

Here are my goals I am setting out to achieve:

-be able to offer theatre workshops locally without charging the participants.

-be able to produce (at least) one comedy each year.

-be able to volunteer more time and donate more money to local theatre.

-volunteer more time and money to the following groups and organizations:

Children's Aid, Artistically Speaking Out Against Bullying, PRIDE, Sunshine Foundation & local theatre

-have the freedom to rehearse, direct and teach theatre without "getting time off" from an employer.

-purchase or rent a larger rehearsal space for Maybles' Productions.

-have my choices NOT be limited by my paycheque or an employer.

-never kiss someone's..."feet" or pretend to be grateful again during an interview when they offer me some crap position for minimum wage on evenings and weekends (when I do most theatre!).

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

STAY TUNED for a blogpost about an upcoming production of "Goodnight Children Everywhere" written by Richard Nelson, directed by Elizabeth Newman and going up at the Palace Theatre October, 2012 ~ starring yours truly as Anne.