Two Rooms

Two Rooms

About the Play

The two rooms of the title are a windowless cubicle in Beirut, where an American hostage is being held by Arab terrorists, and a room in his home in the United States, which his wife has stripped of furniture so that, at least symbolically, she can share his ordeal. In fact the same room serves for both and is also the locale for imaginary conversations between the hostage and his wife, plus the setting for the real talks she has with a reporter and a State Department official. The former, an overly ambitious sort who hopes to develop the situation into a major personal accomplishment, tries to prod the wife into taking umbrage at what he labels government ineptitude and inaction, while the State Department representative is coolly efficient, and even dispassionate, in her attempt to treat the matter with professional detachment. It is her job to try to make the wife aware of the larger equation, of which the taking of a hostage is only one element, but as the months inch by it becomes increasingly difficult to remain patient. The wife is finally goaded by unforeseen developments to speak out against government policy and, in so doing, triggers the tragic series of events that brings the play to its startling conclusion. In the end there are no winners, only losers, and the sense of futility and despair that comes when people of goodwill realize that logic, compassion, and fairness have become meaningless when dealing with those who would commit such barbarous acts so willingly.

North Shore Zone Festival Entry 2016

Two Rooms was part of the Theatre BC North Shore Zone festival of plays at Presentation House Theatre May 2-7, 2016, performing on Wednesday, May 4. Four plays, four days, professionally adjudicated by Anthony Ingram. Full details from 604-990-3474 or Presentation House Theatre. Come and support your favourite club in this annual event.

Two Rooms is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service


For full gallery of production images… Click here to visit our Facebook Page!

DIRECTOR’S NOTES
What you are about to witness is not a news story. This is Lee Blessing’s play Two Rooms, written in 1988. That it could be today’s news story is both depressing and alarming. In the play Blessing spells out clearly and dispassionately the facts that very few Americans understood twenty-eight years ago – that Westerners and particularly Americans are loathed and despised by many people simply because of who they are. If that was all the play was about it would be very sad. But it’s more. It’s about devotion: to a cause; to a belief and, more importantly to another person . It is a profoundly beautiful love story. It is about four imperfect, average people thrust into a maddening and unjust situation over which they have no control. Under this kind of pressure, each of them makes mistakes as they try to cope, and each of them has moments of strength and heroism. Thank you to NVCP for bringing this important play to our theatre and thank you to the audience for taking the journey with us. – Stephen Torrence

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to North Vancouver Community Players production of Two Rooms, which is NVCP’s entry into the Theatre BC North Shore Zone Festival. If you have friends or family who are unable to see this show at Hendry Hall, please let them know they can come to Presentation House Theatre on May 4 and you can see it again too! 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

CastCrewProduction InfoAbout the Company
Character Played by
Michael Wells Cyril Redillas
Lainie Wells Laura Burke
Walker Harris Pierce Ivan
Ellen Van Oss Karen Golden
Director Stephen Torrence
Author Lee Blessing
Production Managers Sue Worrow, and Rosemary Hundal
Stage Manager and Assistant Director Frances Kerstiens
Assistant Stage Manager Leslie Thompson
Set/Décor Designer David Read
Set Construction David Read, Gord Pope, and Ken Thibault
Set Painters Glynnis Brassil, and Robin Hilliard
Properties Ray Boucher, and Leslie Thompson
Lighting and Sound Designer Miles Lavkulich
Lighting and Sound Operators Sandy Branning, and Peter Zednik
Costumes/Seamstresses Shelley Smith, and Karen Cresswell
Make-Up Rob Walters, Ray Boucher, and Katja Nemeth
Graphic Artist Linda Sharp
Publicity and Program Anne Marsh
Front-of-House Coordinator Marie Brazier
Opening Night Catering/Decoration Marie Brazier, Sue Worrow, and Shelley Smith
Box Office Mitchell Mackay
Photographer Damon Calderwood
Videographer Paul Paterson
Original Performance Dates April 8 to 23, 2016
Venue The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC
Production Length 1 hour and 40 minutes
Production Style Political Drama
Special Thanks To Chris Wolfe, Rona, Park & Tilford, Amanda Beisel Capilano University, Bosa Centre for Film, Mitchell Mackay, Gary Logan,
Karin Bews, Sharon Alexander, Ruth Ain, Amanda Froud
Stephen Torrence Director – As well as being an award-winning lighting designer, Stephen has been a producer, director, stage manager, sound and set designer. His credits include designing and directing such plays as Jeffery Sweet’s Bluff, Lee Blessing’s Eleemosynary, Lanford Wilson’s Book of Days and James Valcq’s Zombies From the Beyond. Stephen wants to thank the cast and crew for their hard work. Once again, he thanks NVCP for this opportunity. As always he is grateful to Karen for her patience, support and insight. Finally, he thanks the patrons who support us with their presence.
Cyril Redillas Michael Wells – Cyril is grateful for all the “innumerable parts” that conspired to bring him back to storytelling. He has appeared in independent films and stage productions — never with this much hair. Select credits include The Gutter Diaries, Word of the Wise, Sex in Vancouver (V.A.C.T.) and QUAD (Half-Stratford Players). He congratulates NVCP for this brave choice—still relevant for a play written and set in the 1980s. Cyril appreciates you the audience for opening your eyes, ears, hearts, and minds every time you sit in that seat. Working alongside this immensely dedicated and talented cast and crew brings him great joy. Tonight’s performance is dedicated to Calla and Debbie…always Debbie.
Laura Burke Lainie Wells – Laura has been acting since she was a young girl. She moved here from Calgary five years ago to pursue her dreams of stardom. Laura was previously in The Attic, The Pearls and Three Fine Girls last year in the Fraser Valley Zone festival, which went to the Theatre BC provincial drama festival, Mainstage, where it won Best Ensemble. Laura has performed in many productions, but is especially grateful for this piece and its talented cast and crew. Laura will be filming her first full length film this summer. Keep an eye out for Laura at the Oscars in years to come, where she is convinced she will be accepting an award one day soon!
Karen Golden Ellen Van Oss – Karen has appeared in many productions at Hendry Hall and other local theatres, and has also worked in film and television. She is thrilled to be part of this inspired, hardworking and collaborative team, bringing to life a favourite, and timely, story. Having directed for NVCP twice in the past (Bea’s Niece and Three Viewings), Karen is excited to be directing The Odd Couple (Female Version) for the season opener, here, in September. Thanks, always, to Stephen.
Pierce Ivan Walker Harris – Pierce trained in Vancouver and has been part of numerous stage productions with Between Shifts Theatre in Squamish and Whistler Players through-out the years. This production of Two Rooms has brought him back to performing at Hendry Hall. Stage work includes performing with Deep Cove Stage Society in their Panto Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, as well as Book of Days. His last performance at Hendry Hall was in the award-winning show Bea’s Niece, where he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Pierce wishes to thank all of you for supporting live theatre.