FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAMUEL FRENCH CANADIAN PLAYWRIGHTS
CONTEST - 2006 Winner
SHADOWS ON OAK ISLAND
by Garnet Hirst with Deborah Preeper
A gripping, psychological thriller, SHADOWS ON OAK ISLAND follows Rene and Jackson, an
affluent Toronto couple who are haunted by the terrible loss of their young son, as they
attempt to set up housekeeping on the island and repair their crumbling marriage. Rene is fascinated with the tales of hidden treasure that have
encircled the Island for decades, and is eager to uncover the mystery of it all. Wally, a chatty local and guardian of the island helps them adjust to
their new home and agrees to help Rene in her quest. As Rene
becomes more obsessed with finding the treasure, convinced that it will somehow reunite
her and her husband with their lost child, Jackson begins to drown his grief in alcohol. Wally, obsessed with finding the treasure since boyhood, at first sees
the couple as a means to achieving his goal, but his obsession quickly shifts to Rene and
he appoints himself as her protector. Tensions heighten as the
truth about their son’s abduction, the treasure, and Wally are revealed.
Oak Island slowly becomes an increasingly menacing place, as all three descend into
an ultimately deadly spiral of guilt, betrayal and obsession.
Garnet Hirst, of Sambro, Nova Scotia, is a member of the
Writers Guild of Canada, has written over fifty TV scripts and twenty plays.
To date he has directed over a hundred productions. Garnet was active in the growth
of the National Native Theatre School for six years.
However, his most unique achievement has been the founding of The Insight Theatre
Company, a semi-professional group of mostly blind actors in
Toronto. Garnet’s play The Children's Star was
commissioned by Manitoba Theatre Centre, based on the escapades of a group of Home
Children. Extreme Silence for Young People's Theatre, was based on a drunk driving incident. Grace
and Lillian (about illiteracy, performed across the country) for Nokee Kwee. He was a regular writer for CBC children’s
television. His film script of Fiddle MacFee was nominated by the Writers Guild of
Canada as best new screen play.
Deborah Preeper is a graduate of the Theatre Program at
Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and of the Graduate Centre for Drama at the
University of Toronto. Her first play Perfidia, won top honours at the 1992
Theatre Antigonish One-Act Play Festival. Her work has been seen throughout
the Maritime Provinces. Deborah became obsessed with writing about treasure and
treasure hunters while living near Oak Island in the 1980's. Born and
raised on Cape Breton Island, she now lives in Halifax.
Samuel French would like to congratulate Garnet Hirst & Deborah
Preeper and thank all the playwrights who submitted their work in this contest.
Applications for the 2007 contest are available by calling our
Toronto office (416) 363-8417 or on our website at www.samuelfrench.com
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