A made-in-Nanaimo theatre production is sure to be a B次元官网网址榗ultB次元官网网址� favourite.
Western Edge Theatre is getting ready to bring to the stage the new musical The Cult of Brother 12 at the OV Arts Centre starting March 25.
The play, written and directed by NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Bill Miner, is based on real historical events surrounding Edward Wilson, a British sailor, mystic and cult leader who established the Aquarian Foundation and a colony of followers at Cedar-by-the-Sea in the 1920s.
Dean Chadwick, who stars as Brother XII, said heB次元官网网址檚 always been interested in the folklore surrounding the historical figure, but since being involved with the play, heB次元官网网址檚 researched further and has found himself fascinated by some of the surviving documents written by the cult leader and the foundation.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really great to find this historical figure and find the facts that work in this fictional re-telling,B次元官网网址� Chadwick said. B次元官网网址淏ecause youB次元官网网址檝e got these true people who were there, and then it [progresses] to B次元官网网址榃hat might have happened now?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Chadwick said playing the role of a notorious character has meant trying to B次元官网网址渃ompartmentalizeB次元官网网址� Brother XIIB次元官网网址檚 seemingly different types of personalities to try to discover who he was.
B次元官网网址淎ny character youB次元官网网址檙e playing, you never want to consider them the bad guy,B次元官网网址� the actor said. B次元官网网址淪o trying to figure out why he behaves in certain ways has really been interesting and a deep dig trying to figure out, well, how do I justify doing this or saying that.B次元官网网址�
Co-starring with Chadwick are Lauren Semple as Mabel (Madame Zee) Skottowe as well as Rick Meyers, Frank Moher, Alejandro Mujica and Haley Turnbull.
B次元官网网址淏rother XII told his acolytes that he channeled the B次元官网网址榓scended masters,B次元官网网址� supposedly mystical beings who were guiding the Earth towards a spiritual awakeningB次元官网网址次元官网网址� noted a press release from Western Edge. B次元官网网址淭hings took a decidedly unenlightened turn, however, when he was accused of pilfering colony funds and began an affair with Zee, who helped him turn his utopian encampment into something more like a slave colony. The turmoil ended up in court in Nanaimo, where it is said Brother XII used black magic to render his accusers speechless B次元官网网址� Then there were the jars of buried gold.B次元官网网址�
The music by Miner and Marty Steele will leave audiences humming the tunes, the release added, and Chadwick said a Vaudeville-style number performed with MoherB次元官网网址檚 psychiatrist character has been a highlight of rehearsals.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an exciting world right now,B次元官网网址� Chadwick said. B次元官网网址淭he scenes and the music and the dancing is all intermingling now and itB次元官网网址檚 an exciting time to be at the theatre.B次元官网网址�
WHATB次元官网网址橲 ON B次元官网网址� The Cult of Brother 12 will be performed at the OV Arts Centre, 25 Victoria Rd, at 7:30 p.m. on March 25-26 and March 31-April 2 and at 2 p.m. on March 27 and April 3. Tickets $26-28 for adults, $22-24 for seniors, $15-18 for students and youths 29 and under, available at or by calling 250-816-6459.
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