Tara BeaganB次元官网网址檚 play will finally see the light. The Ministry of Grace, which Beagan wrote and is directing, debuts Feb. 4 at the Belfry Theatre.
The NtlakaB次元官网网址檖amux playwright says B次元官网网址渋t feels absolutely rightB次元官网网址� to stage the long-developed play at the former church.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of those funny Canadian plays that had its time in workshop and its been read off the table for a long time,B次元官网网址� she says, noting that the story was refined through Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto. B次元官网网址淚t really feels right that the piece should come to fruition here.B次元官网网址�
The story follows a NtlakaB次元官网网址檖amux mother, Mary, who answers a call for labourers in California, before being hired as part of a travelling evangelical show and renamed Grace. WhatB次元官网网址檚 interesting, Beagan says, is getting actors to interpret what is B次元官网网址渁 pious devotionB次元官网网址� within the play, such as learning certain hymns. She says itB次元官网网址檚 rare to work with actors who have B次元官网网址渁ny kind of active practiceB次元官网网址� going to a formal church.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of a funny translation process where we have to go B次元官网网址榳hat was that for people, when church was such a common part of community and a way to create community.B次元官网网址� What is that to us now?B次元官网网址�
For actors, Beagan says, that communal place is the theatre. ItB次元官网网址檚 a place where they find connection and reward by going to work, and B次元官网网址渟eeing colleagues at work.B次元官网网址� So they work from there.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 interesting to move from the secular into the more spiritual and sacred,B次元官网网址� she says, B次元官网网址淸and] figure out a way to speak to that that is really authentic and doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel like a superficial layer.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 the third day of rehearsals at the time of interview, and she isnB次元官网网址檛 shy in praising the actorsB次元官网网址� work so far. ItB次元官网网址檚 a little scary how great this cast is, she says.
B次元官网网址淭hese actors are phenomenal,B次元官网网址� she emphasizes the last word. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e just so keen, theyB次元官网网址檙e so ready to go, theyB次元官网网址檙e already lifting off the page a whole bunch, theyB次元官网网址檝e done their homework,B次元官网网址� she says.
Like many of her plays, Beagan says, The Ministry of Grace is about love and how to keep hold of it when facing challenges.
B次元官网网址淏ecause this is an Indigenous story, the love and the difficulties are wrapped up right inside of laughter. So I think anybody will find itB次元官网网址檚 a story they can relate to and theyB次元官网网址檒l be glad they left the comfort of their homes for this telling.B次元官网网址�
Tickets are available online , by phone at 250-385-6815 or at the Belfry box office.
editor@mondaymag.com
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