SEA SO N SPO NSO R:
ENGAGE 2021/2022 THEATRE
SEASON
Trying BY JOANNA MCCLELLAND GLASS
ENGAGE 2021/2022 THEATRE
SEASON
Featuring... SEASON SPONSOR:
Sara Schorr // Cheryl Sileikis Francis Biddle // Glen Pinchin Understudy - Sara Schorr // Karen Street Understudy - Francis Biddle // Brad Felton Artistic Team Director // Jacq Ainsworth Stage Manager // Nelly Fargeon Set Designer // Andrew Potts Props Designer // Charlene Crawford Costume Designer // Des Hale Lighting Designer // Ken Hildebrandt Sound Designer // Josh Osborne Make-Up & Hair Designer // Charlene Crawford 2021-2022 Box Office www.gallery7theatre.com 604.504.5940
Gallery 7 Theatre gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
1 January 28 & 29, February thru 5, 2022 @ 7:30 PM Matinees: January 29 & February 5 @ 2:00 PM
January 29th Understudy Performances: @ 7:30 PM @ 2:00 PM & February 1st
cent Way, Abbotsford
29 Cres Abbotsford Arts Centre, 23
TIME & PLACE Georgetown, Washington, D.C ACT I: November 1967
ACT II: January 1968
AUDIENCE ADVISORY: This play contains minimal instances of course and/or strong language important to the honest portrayal of the characters.
RUNNING TIME Approximately 120 minutes, including one, twenty-minute intermission.
Refreshments and snacks are available in the lobby. You are welcome to bring concessions back to your seat. Please open pop cans and unwrap snacks prior to the start of the show and please place a lid on coffee cups. Thanks for your help in keeping the theatre venue clean and tidy!
PLEASE turn CELL PHONES and ELECTRONIC DEVICES off before showtime • Please remain seated during the performance • Please save the discussion and talking until intermission • Videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited • Children under 3 unfortunately cannot be admitted into the theatre • Out of respect for your fellow audience members, please refrain from wearing strong fragrances
while at the theatre
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*Originally produced at Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago, Illinois: Dennis Zacek, Artistic Director, Sandy Shinner, Production Director. March 29, 2004. Originally produced on the New York Stage by Michael Leavitt, Maidstone Productions, Libby Adler Mages, Mari Stuart, Tony D’Angelo, Steve Dahl, Maria Cozzi, & Sandy Shinner, Production Director. October 14, 2004 *Trying is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com *THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
Because when your spine’s in line, you feel fine.
Dr. Dorothea McCallum CHIROPRACTIC, REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY, SHOCKWAVE, LASER #100A - 2955 Gladwin Road, Abbotsford, BC 604.746.5668 | drdorotheamccallum.ca
Tel: 604.859.3137 Fax: 604.852.4436
#301 - 2955 Gladwin Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 5T4
Greetings from the Artistic Director
Happy New Year!
to keep up the good fight.
The show you’re about to experience has been on my ‘to-do’ list for a long, LONG time. I’m enamored by this play’s exploration of two equally feisty, intellectual, and passionate individuals who must ‘try’ and cross generational and gender divides to understand and work with each other. I love that Sarah is willing to stand up to Judge Biddle’s curmudgeonly nature by demanding respect and appreciation. I also empathize with Judge Biddle’s struggle to let go, come to terms with his mortality and manage his emotional state considering his failing health.
I also love that this play has a Canadian connection. The show is loosely based on playwright Joanna McClelland Glass’ experience working with the real Judge Biddle.
I love that while there is a serious subtext to this show, there is plenty of humor. I relish the often sparky, clipped and pointed dialogue. I also love how the play’s title, despite its challenging marketability, is such an astute and clever play on the themes and circumstances of the show. More recently, I’ve come to appreciate how this play, despite it being written in the early 2000s and taking place in the 1960s, speaks to our time today and our continued struggle to understand, respect, give space for, and even forgive differences and shortcomings in our fellow humans. Judge Biddle’s passion for justice, fairness and helping the disadvantaged are causes that unfortunately still exist in today’s world, and the play gently reminds us
Yes, this play contains some minimal instances of ‘language’ that some might find uncomfortable or outright offensive – I respect that. We’ve left this language in to portray the characters honestly and realistically. I hope we can look beyond the surface of language to engage the deeper themes found in this play: the reality of aging, the challenge of communication, leaving a legacy, and the importance of respect, grace and social justice. I think you’ll find a gem of a play here and you will quickly realize that Trying most definitely belongs in the canon of Gallery 7 Theatre’s many great productions. I invite you to join us in March for our next production, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. We’re thrilled to finally present this madcap murder mystery adventure after it’s postponement from 2020. Details are elsewhere in this program. In the meantime, enjoy the show. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do. Stay well and stay healthy. Curtain up!
Ken Hildebrandt E X E C U T I V E /A R T I S T I C D I R E C T O R
Hello everyone and welcome to a New Year! Hopefully, this year will be a better one than the last two. Our cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for our first show of 2022. As a senior myself, I am looking forward to tonight’s presentation of Trying in which a feisty young woman and a feisty older gentleman attempt to work together and learn from each other. Kind of like me and my grandkids. I hope you enjoy tonight’s performance, and on behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank you for your continued support of Gallery 7 Theatre during these challenging and trying times.
Greetings from the President
Jim Harrison PRESIDENT
Weekdays 5am-10am on
MORNINGS with LISA & KENNY 6am-10am
Director’s Notes Trying beautifully addresses themes that are close to my heart. The characters both have a strong social conscience and want to work towards a more equitable society. While Sarah is still trying to find her way to becoming a writer who could influence minds with her work, Judge Biddle is struggling to wrap up his varied and influential career, sorting through decades of important writings, memories, and documents. Biddle can’t get everything in order by himself, but his poor health and frustration with his own mental lapses make him a trying person to work with. Sarah must decide if she can tolerate his brusque, often rude, behaviour so that this champion of liberal values does not fade out of this world without her securing his legacy.
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At the core of our relationships with each other, we find mutual respect, admiration, and joy. Even as people pass out of our lives, the memory of that core stays with us to warm us for ever. I hope that you find as much delight in this production as I have. I am incredibly grateful for the generous spirit of our cast, who rehearsed in every possible combination, to ensure that our understudies were as prepared as our principal cast. This meant that, in effect, there are four versions of this production that are all beautifully unique! Thank you to our crew and families, without whose support we would not be able to put on this show happily and successfully!
Jacq Ainsworth DIRECTOR
T R Y I N G - J A N U A R Y, 2 0 2 2
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Production Team Assistant Stage Manager // Pat Davis Running Crew // Michelle Potts & Meenakshi Nair Lighting Operator // Mark Stevens & Chris Williams Head of Construction // Andrew Potts Set Assistant // Linda Production Photographer // Veda Maharaj House Managers // Linda Funk, Louise Reimer Discussion Guide Editor // Angelika Dawson Program Layout & Design // Justin Keitch, Ignite Creative Additional Set Load-in/out Crew // Nelly Fargeon Gallery 7 Theatre Staff Executive & Artistic Director // Ken Hildebrandt Production Manager // Charlene Crawford Theatre Administrator // Mikayla Froese Marketing Associate & Webmaster // Gabe Kirkley Bookkeeper // Marion Witoszkin Front of House Coordinator // Jenn Suess Head of Properties & Company Photographer // Dianna Lewis Graphic Designer // Justin Keitch, Ignite Creative Gallery 7 Theatre Board of Directors Jim Harrison // President Matt Forster // Vice President Rudy Ouwehand // Treasurer
Fran Vanderpol // Secretary Dr. Lloyd Arnett // Director at Large
Acknowledgements Gallery 7 extends a HUGE thank-you to all our volunteers for their hard work, dedication and support. Without them, this theatre would not succeed! We would also like to thank the following for their contribution to this production: Abbotsford Arts Centre // School District #34 // Abbotsford International Airshow Society – Jim Reith, Dave Reith & Sandra Bater // UFV Theatre Costume Department – Heather Robertson // All the businesses and churches who placed postcards in their reception or info centre.
WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST & CREW
Jacq Ainsworth (Production Director) Jacq (she/her) is delighted to bring this well-loved play to the live stage for Gallery 7 Theatre after spending months adapting theatre for live streaming and socially distant events. She has worked with theatre companies throughout the Valley and Vancouver, having received her theatre training at UBC, Vancouver Actors School and through countless workshops with local theatre and film professionals. A member of the CTC nominating committee, Jacq has enjoyed productions from companies as far flung as Delta, Coquitlam and Langley, and continues to appreciate the diversity of storytelling on these unceded lands of the Coast Salish people she is grateful to live and work in.
Charlene Crawford (Production Manager/Props Designer) A BA graduate from the TWU theatre program, Charlene has been telling stories on the stage for almost two decades. She has served as the company’s production manager officially for 5 years but was a volunteer and contract artist for many years before that. Charlene has performed, produced and designed during her career and is sad to see that some post-secondary institutions no longer value the contributions of theatre to society. She is thankful that you have chosen to come out to support the magic of live theatre.
Pat Davis (Assistant Stage Manager) Pat has been involved with Gallery 7 Theatre for several years, acting on two occasions in The Hiding Place and Fiddler on the Roof. In the last few years, you would have found Pat backstage as ASM for costumes, ready to sew on buttons and iron shirts! This is an interesting play for Pat as she was a judge’s secretary at the Provincial level before moving to the Superior Courts.
Nelly Fargeon (Stage Manager) Nelly has been working with Gallery 7 Theatre in multiple behind the scenes roles for several years now, but especially loves the challenge of stage managing. She would like to thank the cast and crew of the show for all their efforts, the staff at Gallery 7 Theatre for their patience and tireless work, and all you patrons out there for helping to keep theatre alive!
Brad Felton (Understudy - Francis Biddle) Brad has been a performer since the age of four, as a musician, singer, actor and stand-up comic. He has the privilege of having taken acting classes from Peter Breck at the Breck Academy for two years and earned a Bachelor of Music from UBC. This is his twelfth play in the last five years, his first with Gallery 7 Theatre and his first two-hander. Brad’s stage experience includes pantos, comedies and dramas. He is so pleased to be part of this production and to perform with this outstanding cast and crew.
Des Hale (Costume Designer) Des is a graduate of UFV’s BA program with a major in theatre, and they are so glad to costume design for a Gallery 7 Theatre mainstage production. When they aren’t vigorously putting together costumes, you may find them working at local fabric store, Overseas Fabrics, snuggling their grumpy cat, or finishing up one of many craft projects. Des would like to thank their loved ones for the continued support, and for putting up with always hearing “sorry, I have rehearsal”
Ken Hildebrandt (Executive Artistic Director/Lighting Designer) Ken is the founding Executive/Artistic Director of Gallery 7 Theatre. In addition to managing the organization, Ken occasionally directs, acts or does lighting design. Select directing credits include Doubt, A Parable, Halo, The Giver, Lord of the Flies, Driving Miss Daisy, The Importance of Being Earnest and the Canadian amateur premier of Swallows and Amazons. Select acting projects include The Mousetrap, Macbeth and Tuesdays with Morrie. Lighting design credits include Hamlet (UFV), The Fantasticks, Mary’s Wedding, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Pride and Prejudice. When not doing theatre, Ken enjoys announcing at airshows, flying airplanes and relaxing at home with friends, movies and video games.
Josh Osborne (Sound Designer) Josh is a Vancouver-based actor and musician and is excited to be back to do a sound design for Gallery 7 Theatre. Josh has always had a passion for anything to do with sound, playing classical piano from a young age and studying musical composition at VCC. As a life-long lover of both noise and pretending, Josh is jumping at the chance to combine them to help immerse you in the vibrant world of this beautiful show.
Glen Pinchin (Francis Biddle) Although it’s been a while, Glen is very much looking forward to once again “treading the boards” and bringing this wonderful story to the stage. Over the years he has appeared in several G7 offerings, including Anne (of Green Gables) (Uncle Matthew), The Diary of Anne Frank (Otto Frank) and Tuesdays with Morrie (Morrie Schwartz). Other select appearances include The Circle (Lord Porteous) – United Players, You Can’t Take It with You (Mr. Kirby) – Pacific Theatre, and, again, Tuesdays with Morrie – Pacific Theatre. Glen took up acting after retiring from his previous career and went on to complete a Theatre Arts diploma from the University of the Fraser Valley. Married to Marla for over 50 years, Glen would very much like to acknowledge and thank his lovely wife for her constant encouragement and support of his acting endeavours.
Andrew Potts (Set Designer) Andrew has built sets for Gallery 7 Theatre for several seasons now. Select builds include Doubt, The Miracle Worker, The Mousetrap, and Joseph. This is his third set design for Gallery 7 Theatre—hot on the heels of December’s This Wonderful Life. His many other talents include juggling, playing guitar, eating snacks, and falling asleep on the couch while flossing halfway through the hockey game. Thanks for coming and enjoy the show!
Cheryl Sileikis (Sarah Schorr) A graduate of Niagara College Performing Arts program and a new performer with Gallery 7 Theatre, Trying is Cheryl’s theatrical debut. She has appeared in various short films such as And You, Beside, Window on the 7th Floor and Deathspoof. After working behind the camera as a technician for over a decade, and being inspired by Hamilton: An American Musical, she ventured to expand her horizons, pursuing involvement in theatre production. With similar themes of political history weaved through this play, Cheryl looks forward to carrying on the legacies of those brought to life in Trying.
Karen Street (Understudy - Sarah Schorr) Karen is reunited with the amazing director, Jacq (who directed Karen’s “Nurse” in Bard in the Valley’s Romeo & Juliet), for this character-driven, two-person play about expectations, challenges and growth. From this production, she has learned a lot about history and grammar, and is excited by the challenge of expressing the myriad ways of saying two little words. Karen returns for her 3rd show with G7 (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, A Wrinkle in Time, Trying), and when asked if she would take on the role as the understudy for “Sarah,” she only had to say, “Yes, sir.”
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SUPPORTER’S GALLERY
The individuals listed below are heroes of Gallery 7 Theatre. They have contributed some of their hard-earned cash and/or value of their tickets to help us navigate through an incredibly challenging time and to help us continue creating entertaining theatre that stirs the heart, challenges the mind and elevates the soul. Thank you! Every effort has been made to make this list as accurate as possible but if you see an error or omission, please let us know at 604. 504.5940 or at info@gallery7theatre.com so we can correct things. Our donors are very important to us! Family Gallery ($1 - $99) Jaynne Aster Eldon & Monica Affleck David Allen Joan Baerg Diane Barnhill Laura Beatty Judy Becker Sharon Bell Susan Benjamin Cynt Bernardin Lorita Bos Joel Brandt Deborah Brewer Doriana Brewer Joan Brooks Kathleen Burchill Sharon Busby Heidi Calzavara Mary Chesham Linda Crowell Walter Davies Cornelius & Christine De Ruiter Dani Dejong Grace DeJong Jacquie Dick Linda Driediger Len Dueck Gloria Dyck Ingrid Epp Sharon Erickson Nassy Fesharaki Donna Flynn Martha Friesen Melody Froc Helen Guenther Mayoh Dan Guenther Steven Hamel
Kari Harper Carol & Tony Helgason Kyle Herrewynen Marilyn Hoeppner Leroy Hollaar Kan and Lorraine Holmes Norman Holmes Leone Hopwood Judy James Linda Johnston Dr. R Bruce Kirkley Adele Klassen Beverly Klassen Erwin Klassen Laverne Klassen Lillian Klassen Robert & Christina Koole Sylvia Kroeker Kim Kruusma Andrea Langill Rebecca Laurenti Emily Leavitt Monique LeBlanc Willetta Les Brennan Loewen Barb Luck Ian Maclean Michaela Mamm Bernie Martens Lorna Marten Charlene Crawford Helen Mayoh Rose McComb Helen McElroy Linda McRae Karen Metzger Cheryl Mulder Susan Murphy Kalegaric Nevio Gary O’Keefe
Karen Olafson Carla Pattinson Lily Penner Mary Putman Elaine Ranger Marlene Raymond Teresa Regier Vivian Reid Margaret Rempel Carol Roberts Heather Robertson Ann Rowley Richard Sather Evan Schmuland Dorothy Seiler Leanne Shuttleworth Juliana Smith Carol Stewart Joyce Sukkau John Thielmann Janette Thiessen Jane Thompson Otto van Ek Mary van Muyen Maggie Van Seters Joyce Van Spronsen Jenny Vanderheide Marnie Venema Joyce Verwoerd Adelita Viger Rudolf Wagner J. Neufeild Waldimar Suzie Warneke Sandy Watson Graham Webb Elizabeth Williams Jim Williams Jennifer Wittrup
Patron’s Gallery ($100 - $249) Anonymous (x2) Al & Beverley Boniface Robert Boughen Alan Cobbet Cindy Coles Allena Collie Aaron Dawson Sharon Crowley Harminder Dhillon Jacquie Dick Peter & Lora Dijk Judith Doyharcabal Dale Edwards Aird Flavelle Sheila Flavelle Brendan & Karen Frith Abram & Ann Funk Eunice Gaglardi Roy Haflie Chris Harper Joyce Henson Kim Hiebert Geoff & Yolanda Hoogstra Judith Ibbs Steve and Jean Imbach Stacey Irwin Ardis Janzen Nev Kalegaric Dick Klapwyk Eldon Letkeman Thea Levesque Kathleen MacKillop Joanne Martin Dorothea McCallum Maureen McConnel Eldon McMann Randolf Millard Cheryl Mulder Susan Murphy Waldimar & Elinor Neufeld Kalegaric Nevio Gary O’Keefe Karen Olafson Pastor John Carla Pattinson Corice Peters Erin Peters Shelley Picard Andrew Potts Dorothy Reid David and Cindy Sahlstrom Abigail Schultz Ryan Scramstad
Chris Smallenberg David Smith Trent Stenmark Donald Strangway Katie Syroid Ernie & Janette Thiessen United Way Ontario Andrew van der Leek Alyssa Vanderstoep Richard & Louise Welsh Marilyn Weston Elizabeth Winn Gwen Wray Actor’s Gallery ($250 - $499) Beth & Lloyd Arnett James Bergen Tamara Charman Virgina Cooke John Crawford Patrica Davis Ian Fenwick Roy Harrison Natalie Hoogstra Victoria Hurlbut Ardis Janzen Gabe Kirkley Harold & Carolyn Krahn Calvin McCarthy Louise Oppel Christine Redekop Ron Reed Jim & Maggie Reith Chris Smallenberg Luke Timmermans Marion Witoszkin Director’s Gallery ($500 - $999) Anonymous (x2) Gordon & Frances Bates Danalyn DeJong Maria Denholme Karis Duncalf Gloria Fernandez Beth Gasser Josha Ho Bruce McLaughlin Rudy & MaryAnna Ouwehand Quantum Properties Robert and Pamela Schultz James Shannon Karen Vandongen Kate Woo
Producer’s Gallery ($1,000 - $4,999) Anonymous (x1) Nora & Lloyd Arnett Joanne Bandstra Gareth & Cynthia Brandt Janet Brock Doris Darvasi Angelika and John Dawson Elizabeth Doerksen Nelly Fargeon Ken Hildebrandt Laura Kehler Mt. Lehman Winery Louise Reimer Stephen & Sylvia Stewart Brittany Suderman Jennifer Suess Richard & Louise Welsh Artistic Director’s Gallery ($5000 +) Your Name Here. You can be a hero of Gallery 7 Theatre too! All donations above $10 will receive a tax deductible receipt. Make a one-time contribution or set up a monthly donation program. Every contribution, big or small, is a HUGE help to us. Give us a call at 604-504-5940 or go to www.gallery7theatre.com to make your donation today!
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