Full Length Winner
($1000 Cash Award)
"The Death of Sir Arthur Currie" by
Jeff Pitcher , North Vancouver, BC
Synopsis:
The Death of Sir Arthur Currie is based on the trial of Sir Arthur
Currie, commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War 1
when he sued the owner of a small town newspaper in Ontario for libel in
1928 and his subsequent death.
Jurors' comments included:
"....great jumps between settings and moments…the writer keeps this story on
a very tight rope …excellent characters….Arthur Currie is contradictory and
complex…intriguing look at an important moment in Canadian history….sparks
debate on current issues "
"...This play kept me hanging on! Good voice for characters – true, swift
and moving dialogue. …drive throughout … balance between historical and
theatrical kept me engaged."
“ Wonderfully written…all characters are believable… I like going from the
courtroom back to the war… exciting to read….lots of energy and the energy
never lets up.”
One Act Winner
($750 Western Canada Theatre Cash Award)
"The Big Polka Dot" by Joel Janisse,
Windsor, ON
Synopsis:
Ivan has written a play satirizing the new religion de jour, Polka Dotology.
It is the hit of the New York Fringe and Ivan and the lead actor Scott
“Skinny” Ridowski are approached about adapting it for Hollywood. The catch
is, they must meet with Polka Dotology’s religious head (or is it cult
leader) first.
Jurors' comments included:
"Hilarious, absurd story, exploring truly scary power of belief and
righteousness...laugh-out-loud moments throughout….tight piece of theatre
that is more than ready for an audience.”
"Interesting characters, original idea and perspective…good drive, dialogue
– witty humor…plot twists - love it!”
Special Merit Winner
($500 City of Kamloops Cash Award)
"Pox" by Harold Rhenisch, Campbell
River, BC
Synopsis:
Two incorrigible gamblers from 1871 return to the grasslands to settle a
bet, only to reenact (and bungle) a crime that saw six Shuswap girls
mysteriously dead during a treaty negotiation. To enliven their bet, the
gamblers exchange roles halfway through.
Jurors' comments included:
"Good humor - poetic text….Really liked “walk in Shuswap shoes”…love to see
it on its feet…."
"Theatricality inherent in the character choices…kudos for creating a truly
west-coast story…
succeeds in maintaining a dizzying sense of time …conversations unfold in
unexpected ways, sprinkled with thoughtful and frequently contradictory
postures on conquest history and consequence…a challenging piece of acting
and stagecraft for producers on any level…”
“This is an amazing play…very clever and thought-provoking material…a twist
in characters keeps you on your toes…”
FINALISTS (alphabetical order by
title)
"A Dying Family Tradition" by Dianne
Lococo, Toronto, ON
Synopsis:
Cadence arrives home from her mother’s funeral. She is all alone in the
world—until her dead mother appears. Then her dead father. Then an
Australian bashes into Cadence’s home and life, insisting that she is
Cadence’s long-lost sister. A mean yogi further disrupts the family by
staking claim to Cadence’s inheritance. People die. It’s a family tradition.
Jurors' comments included:
"Dark humor captures interest and a sense of “what happens next?” …dynamic
relationships…very funny"
“The characters are fun. One set. No scene changes. Fun ending.”
"Funny and fresh…great stage tricks…script is tight enough to deserve a home
on a regional mainstage… funniest character in this year’s competition:
Melody, the man-sized Australian boor.”
"A Year of
Winter" by Scott Sharplin, Edmonton, AB
Synopsis:
A brilliant artistic partnership between a painter and her schizophrenic
friend becomes strained when financial success threatens their intricately
constructed private world.
Jurors' comments included:
"...original relationship…dialogue is well-written…poetic text. Lovely dark
play."
"...wildly inventive dialogue that takes the audience along for the
(ride)…surprising, engrossing – masterful build to the climax…resonant
images….impressive psychological thriller."
“ A very thought-provoking play…the characters are quirky and
different….dialogue flows…the ending leaves you wanting more.”
"Dream for Upirngaq" by Tanya M.
Gadsby, Victoria, BC
Synopsis:
In a time long before Europeans arrived in the north, bleak starvation has
gripped a small family of Inuit living on the land. The youth in the family
are losing faith in the traditional ways while their elders still tell the
old stories and believe the starvation will pass. When four young lovers
become lost on the tundra at night, they fall prey to the whims of the gods
and spirit world. Dream for Upirngaq follows the basic plot of
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but emphasizes the rich
culture and traditions of the Inuit.
Jurors' comments
included:
"Interesting-original adaptation….very beautiful Inuit story…beautiful
language throughout"
"Effortless and beautiful fusion of Inuit culture and Elizabethan comedy…the
play takes us to a specific Canadian place but the setting is exploited for
all its magic and whimsy….." |
