In the small town of Amherst, Nova Scotia in 1879, nineteen-year-old Esther Cox, a bar maid living modestly with her sister and brother-in-law, hears voices and is the victim of threatening messages written on her bedroom wall after a strange encounter with her beau in the marshes one night. A simple and unassuming life spirals headlong into a macabre nightmare as her family, desperate to protect their unborn child, abandons her and an enterprising thespian tries to cash in on her newly acquired fame with a travelling spiritualist act. With the medical experts baffled, the religious community helpless, and Ether imprisoned for crimes committed by the poltergeist, the last hope to save her soul is a mystifying native ceremony known as the ‘Shaking Tent Ritual’. As extraordinary as it sounds, it’s all true!
Written and directed by Van Dyck, the work has been four years in the making. Initially, Paul wanted to write a play about life after death, however in the course of his research he came across The Great Amherst Mystery. The strange events captured his imagination and propelled him to the Maritimes, where he scoured the bowls of the Amherst Museum to discover a plethora of documentation concerning Esther Cox, including her bizarre medical records, incredible scientific examinations, and personal letter’s from Esther’s doctor stating: “I am certain I could not have believed such apparent miracles had I not witnessed them myself”. All of which became the foundation for his new play.
The first draft was read at Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal in 2005, and received attention through the Playwrights Gym, a unit of eight playwrights led by the Artistic/Executive Director (Paula Danckert and subsequently Emma Tibaldo) and the playwright in residence, Greg MacArthur, who met regularly to offer professional criticism.
An all-star cast and crew bring the bizarre tale to life, including Catherine Bérubé (best known recently for her role as Brigitte on the CBC series Sophie) as Esther, NDG’s very own Alexandria Haber as her pregnant sister and Carlo Mestroni, a regular on the TV acting circuit, as her husband. Eric Davis plays the torn, morphine-addicted Doctor Carritte and Kyle Gatehouse is Esther’s strange and guilt-ridden boyfriend. Paul Van Dyck narrates as the entrepreneurial rogue, Walter Hubbell.
Jeremy Eliosoff, who created the Garden of Eden for Van Dyck’s Paradise Lost last spring, will be providing the eerie FX with computer generated graphics. Jody Burkholder, no stranger to Rabbit in a Hat, having collaborated on Sahara Crossing, The Cyclops, penumbra and Paradise Lost, designs the ghostly lighting with sombre period costumes by Helen Rainbird, (Théâtre Lac Brome’s Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and Putting it Together). Jesse Ash, hot off the sets of Teesri Duniya’s Truth and Treason and Mainline’s Teen Sleuth, creates the spine tingling sound scape aided by Daniel Giverin, in a new role of music consultant, playing violin and Trevor Smith, making his theatrical debut on cello. Danielle Ariel Caddell-Malenfant returns to the aptly chosen venue as Stage Manager with assistance from Heather Keiller.
Running until October 31
Dates & Times
Oct. 27 – 31 at 8 p.m.
Venue
Dawson Hall
St. James United Church
463 Ste-Catherine West
Entrance: 1440, rue St-Alexandre
Tickets
General: $20
Tuesdays: 2 for 1
Box Office
(514) 303 – 7646
