The Mystery Plays
About the Play
THE MYSTERY PLAYS is two interrelated one acts, loosely based on the tradition of the medieval mystery plays. In the first play, THE FILMMAKER’S MYSTERY, Joe Manning, a director of horror films, survives a terrible train wreck—only to be haunted by the ghost of Nathan West, one of the passengers who didn’t survive. As the police investigate Joe, he investigates Nathan, desperate to understand why he survived and what Nathan’s spectre could possible want. In the second play, GHOST CHILDREN, Joe’s attorney and friend, Abby Gilly, travels to a small town in rural Oregon to make peace with the man who brutally murdered her parents and younger sister sixteen years earlier. The man—the murderer—is her older brother. Like the original medieval mystery plays, THE MYSTERY PLAYS wrestles with the most profound of human ideas: the mysteries of death, the afterlife, religion, faith, and forgiveness—in a uniquely American way.
The Mystery Plays is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
These plays are not your typical Agatha Christie murder mysteries. They push us out of our comfort zone and shock us with their raw brutality. A brutality that we see all the time on television, and barely give it a second thought. But here, in the live theatre, these interwoven stories come to life. They are as real as the actors in front of us, and the closeness of that makes us squirm. Tonight, everyone here – everyone gathered – will see how two journeys play out. For awhile, two travelers, standing on the threshold, won’t be so alone. We’ll be with them – Lisa Pope
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to North Vancouver Community Players’ production of The Mystery Plays. This is our second production of the new season. Please be sure to pick up a brochure outlining our upcoming 2015-2016 season. We know that you will love the choices and we hope that you will leave Hendry Hall tonight having enjoyed a wonderful evening of live entertainment. 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 |
| Mister Mystery et al | Ken Irwin – Ken Irwin appears with the permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association |
| Joe Manning et al | Darcey Kirkpatrick |
| Nathan West et al | Alex Ross |
| Abby Gilley et al | Laura Ross |
| Ben Gilley et al | Evan Moyer |
| Amanda Urbane et al | Marianne LaRochelle |
| Understudy | Kenneth Tynan |
| Director | Lisa Pope |
| Author | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa |
| Production Managers | Fran Heaney, and Val Mason |
| Stage Manager | Stephen Torrence |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Elaina Austin |
| Set/Décor Designer | Glynnis Brassil |
| Set Construction | Gord Pope, and David Read |
| Set Painters | Glynnis Brassil, and Robin Hilliard |
| Properties | Val Mason |
| Lighting Designer | Stephen Torrence |
| Lighting Assistant | Greg Dent |
| Sound Designers | Kyle MacDonald |
| Lighting and Sound Operator | William Ruptash |
| Costumes | Fran Heaney, and Carol Pope |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Sandy Branning |
| Box Office | Sue Worrow |
| Photographer | Damon Calderwood |
| Videographer | Chris Wolfe |
| Original Performance Dates | October 23 to November 7, 2015 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Production Style | Thriller |
| Special Thanks To | SMP Dramatic Society, Highlands United Church, Karen Golden, Michael Coleman, Nick Peerson, Meghan McGuinness Gill. Sandy Branning, Michael Wilkinson |
| Lisa Pope | Director – Lisa is thrilled to be directing at NVCP. Favourite previous directing credits include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, Cliffhanger, The Witch of Evil Wood, and Independence. Favourite previous acting credits include: Secrets of A Soccer Mom, Bea’s Niece, Book of Days, Proposals, Quad, and The Diviners. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone in the cast and crew of this production; what an incredible team! Special thanks to Kyle, Bryce, and Lucy for your love and support. |
| Ken Irwin | Mister Mystery et al – Ken is enjoying an acting renaissance, for him, having returned to performing after a many-decade absence. Recent roles have included Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas in Godspell, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, the Musical, and Teyve in Fiddler on the Roof. He’s delighted to be on stage here at Hendry Hall amidst this fun and talented cast and extends his thanks to Lisa, Stephen and all the dedicated people who compose North Vancouver Community Players. |
| Darcey Kirkpatrick | Joe Manning et al – After a three year break, Darcey is excited to be back on stage and feeling very fortunate to be working with such a talented cast and crew! He has been involved in numerous productions and played such iconic characters as Scrooge from A Christmas Carol, Sherlock Holmes and Wesley/The Dread Pirate Roberts in a stage production of The Princess Bride. Now, let these mysteries unravel! |
| Marianne LaRochelle | Amanda Urbane et al – After a three year hiatus, Marianne has returned to Hendry Hall. Theatre has always been a part of Marianne’s life. She loves that theatre provides opportunities that challenge the actor to grow as a human being. Favourite on stage experiences include Doubt, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Speaking in Tongues and, most recently, Bluff. Marianne would like to thank the cast, crew and production team of The Mystery Plays; “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be able to create and play with such a dynamic group of people.” |
| Evan Moyer | Ben Gilley et al – Coming from a small town in Saskatchewan, moving to the “Big City” was quite a change for Evan. Following his love and passion for acting, Evan moved to Vancouver two years ago and since has enjoyed being a part of multiple productions in stage and film. When not on stage or in front of a camera, Evan likes staying active by doing grip and lighting work for film and theatre. He is very excited to join North Vancouver Community Players in their production of The Mystery Plays. |
| Alex Ross | Nathan West et al – Alex graduated with a degree in theatre from Thompson Rivers University, where he was the recipient of the TRU River Actor’s Endowment. He has appeared in a number of shows including Twelfth Night (Alchemy Theatre), Bluff (NVCP) and Shady Business (Deep Cove Stage Society). |
| Laura Ross | Abby Gilley et al – Laura is thrilled to be among such talented performers in The Mystery Plays. Select performing credits include Crazy For You (Gateway Theatre), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Hello, Dolly! (Vancouver Playhouse), A Good Way Out (Pacific Theatre), Coronation Voyage (Belfry Theatre), and various Canadian and US tours of The Backyardigans/ Franklin the Turtle/Caillou/Little Bear (KOBA Family Entertainment). Laura is also co-writing and producing a television series Talking To Strangers. |
| Kenneth Tynan | Understudy to Evan Moyer – Kenneth is a young actor in Vancouver who is very excited to be sharing this project with you. He went St. Patrick’s High School where he played everything from the elderly Egeon in A Comedy of Errors all the way to the dark and brooding Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace. He then attended School Creative where he honed his skills as an actor and took the first steps in becoming an improviser. This past summer he had the great pleasure of being a part of Fighting Chance’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar and will be acting in an upcoming feature film. |