Roadside Vigil
About the Play
It’s been 15 years since the tragic and untimely death of Vivian’s sister Kate at the age of 17. Both Vivian and their mother, Reagan, are deeply haunted by these memories. Vivian is determined to move forward with the help of her therapist but Reagan, a faded film star, clings to the past. Will they find the peace they are looking for? The answer lies on the road between them.
WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE!
Playwright Nicole Heather Downie attended preview and opening night.
This production of Roadside Vigil is dedicated to Chris Wolfe.
Roadside Vigil is produced by special arrangement with the Author
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
I think it was sometime in 2011 that Nicole sent me a draft copy of her first play Roadside Vigil. I remember falling in love with the story and the characters. Roadside Vigil was subsequently work-shopped and has had a couple of staged readings, one of which was here at Hendry Hall during our Sunday Salon Series. Two years later, for the first time ever, it is now a fully realized production! I am so please to be able to present it here at Hendry Hall. On our way to our cabin in Mission we pass many a roadside vigil. I have always been fascinated with the life each vigil honours and the story behind a lonely roadside cross or an elaborate well-tended monument to a loved one. Each Fall when we close up the cabin, I count these vigils on the way home and each spring when we open up the cabin again there are more–sadly. All unique, all very personal and suspended in time. The themes in Roadside Vigil are universal. It unfolds with great tenderness and humour. It’s a memory play. The letting go of the past, in order to open the door to forgiveness. Thank you for joining us on this mother and daughter journey of the heart.
– Jennifer Morabito
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to North Vancouver Community Players’ production of Roadside Vigil. We are pleased to produce a world premiere! What a wonderful way to lighten your spirits in the rainy, dreary days of October and November! We hope that you will leave Hendry Hall this evening having appreciated a well staged play. Enjoy the show! If you would like to join into the fun on and off stage, please check out our website North Van Community Players under the section Volunteer. We would love to have you aboard! – Fran Heaney
| Character | Played by |
| Vivian Descharmes | Barbara Eden |
| Reagan Descharmes | Chris McBeath |
| Haydn | Alex Ross |
| Dr. Konrad Lewis | Michael Morabito |
| Producers | Sandy Branning, and Frances Kerstiens |
| Director | Jennifer Morabito |
| Author | Nicole Heather Downie |
| Stage Manager | Leslie Whittaker |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Meghan McNeight |
| Set Designer | Glynnis Brassil |
| Set Construction | Clive Sanders, Bob Martin, and Marty Smith |
| Set Decorators and Painters | Linda Sharp, Robin Hilliard, Glynnis Brassil, Fran Crossley, and Tünde Friend |
| Properties | Val Mason |
| Lighting Designer | Bill Howorth |
| Sound Designers | Anne Marsh |
| Lighting and Sound Operator | Liz Whittaker |
| Costumes | Pat Cox, and Fran Crossley |
| Hair and Make-Up | Leslie Whittaker |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh, and Pam Kearns |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Heather Macfarlane |
| Opening Night Catering/Decoration | Kathleen Denkewalter, and Beatrijs Brett |
| Box Office | Marie Brazier |
| Photographer | Damon Calderwood |
| Videographer | Paul Paterson |
| Original Performance Dates | October 20 to November 4, 2017 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Production Style | Drama |
| Special Thanks To | North Lonsdale United Church, Kosmo Ng, Rayni Li, Leslee Watson, Nick Palidwor, Moira and John Wightman, Laurie Sluchinski, Tracy Labrosse, David C. Jones, and Louise Porter |
| Nicole Heather Downie | Playwright – Nicole has been involved in theatre, wearing several hats, on and off stage, since her days as a senior in high school. She started as an actress in several high school plays, including two in which she was a co-playwright with a fellow drama student. From there, she entered the world of community theatre and has helped bring over forty produc-tions to life as an actress, props designer, lighting/sound operator, producer, and stage manager. She has worked with many different groups in Toronto and Vancouver, including NVCP. Nicole would like to thank NVCP for giving Roadside Vigil its stage debut. Special thanks to Director, Jennifer Wightman Morabito, for being her biggest supporter and an amazing friend. |
| Jennifer Morabito | Director – Jennifer is absolutely thrilled to be directing the world première of Roadside Vigil by her dear friend Nicole Heather Downie and to be working with such a dream cast and crew. The whole experience has been a labour of love. Recent directing credits include The Kitchen Witches (NVCP), A Woman of No Importance (Two Gals Theatre Co) and The Dresser (Presentation House Theatre). Acting credits include Miriam in Snake in The Grass, Sultana in Aladdin, Nan/Lina in Three Days of Rain (NVCP), Lucy in An Inconvenient Fish (Shadbolt) and Violet in Blithe Spirit (First Impressions Theatre). |
| Barbara Eden | Vivian Descharmes – Barbara last appeared on stage at Hendry Hall about 15 years ago and is delighted to be back again. Her first role was in Neil Simon’s comedy Plaza Suite, followed by other roles such as Lizzy Borden in Blood Relations, Claudia in Nuts, the Queen of Hearts in Down the Rabbit Hole, Mrs. Wiggins from the Carol Burnett Show and Carmen Miranda in an NVCP Cabaret. Tonight she will bring to life the world of Vivian Descharmes and tell her story of love, loss and moving on. Thank you for coming! |
| Chris McBeath | Reagan Descharmes – For any actress ‘of a certain age’, Reagan is a delicious character – full of askew personality traits that she has cultivated to keep her hurt and insecurities at bay. Without a doubt, Reagan Descharmes is among Chris’ favourite roles alongside Judith Bliss in Hay Fever and Lady Dorothy in People (United Players), Sister Hubert in Nunsense (First Impressions Theatre) and her solo performance as A Woman of No Importance which earned her a Best Actress citation at Theatre BC’s North Shore Zone Festival. Art may be ‘imperfection’ for Reagan, but for Chris, it has been a perfect privilege to give this woman ‘life’. Thank you to Jennifer and Nicole for this opportunity. |
| Michael Morabito | Dr. Konrad Lewis – A member of NVCP for many years, Michael appeared most recently in NVCP’s productions of Moon Over Buffalo, The Murder Room, Kitchen Witches, Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii, and The Mystery of Irma Vep. He is very glad to be part of the NVCP team working on the premiere of this new play Roadside Vigil written by our very good friend Nicole Heather Downie. Enjoy the show. |
| Alex Ross | Haydn – Alex appeared most recently at Hendry Hall as Mountain Man in 2000. Other shows in which he has appeared include The Mystery Plays and Bluff for NVCP, as well as Relatively Speaking and Shady Business for Deep Cove Stage Society. He also played the back of the cow in Sleeping Beauty a few years back. It gets left off his résumé most of the time, but he was damn convincing. And, finally, he is the writer, producer and lighting designer for Vagabond Players’ panto Sleeping Beauty opening later in November. |