KAMLOOPS PLAY TACKLES GENERATIONAL REGRET AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE

screenplay and a TV pilot before deciding to produce a Kamloops-based play.

“I thought a stage play would be more immediate and might have a positive impact on Kamloops,” he explained.

The piece was finished before the COVID-19 pandemic, and he’s waited to open the curtains since then.

“I’m really glad that it's finally to the stage after all this time, [which] has given me time to revise it and polish it.”

Johnson gained feedback from the director, Christopher Weddell, and the

By Liz McDonald

Environmentalists and comedy enthusiasts take note – there’s a new play in Kamloops tackling environmental degradation and regrets from the baby boomer generation’s failure to tackle climate change.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) professor George Johnson is debuting his play, Boomerangst, at the Pavilion Theatre from June 8 to 17. The allages play focuses on a baby boomer who creates a commune of retirees and former band members.

In the play, the characters attempt to return to their youthful ideals and “get back to the land,” facing interpersonal struggles, environmental difficulty and eventually unifying against a multinational mining company.

“[The main character, James Brown,] tries to convince some of the others at the reunion to join him to form a kind of retirement commune to get back to the land and live out their youthful ideals because they were all sort of wanting to go green back in the day in the 70s,” Johnson said.

Johnson is the chair of the english and modern languages department at TRU and says the inspiration for the play started a decade ago after reading about a retirement community for performers in Vancouver.

“I read a newspaper, and I thought, ‘well, that sounds pretty interesting.’ How would people who are used to being center stage get along together in retirement?”

He’s been working on writing the script ever since, and originally developed it as a feature actors participating in the production.

“It’s been a communal experience, and the whole thing is about a commune…in the environment, we all have to work together,” Johnson said.

The production team recently released a music video on YouTube as well, featuring a song called “Climate Crisis,” set in Deadman Valley amongst a wild-fire scorched backdrop.

Tickets for the play can be purchased online through Kamloops Live! Box Office at tickets.kamloopslive.com or at the door.

Calling all pianists and writers! ArtZone has two public art installations ready for your skill. The first is a piano located in the village core, open to anyone who wants to serenade their friends and strangers.

For those who are more scribes than soloists, there's a typewriter between Fondue Stube and Mountain Tiger just waiting for you to hone your Hemmingway hands. Type a postcard to friends and family near or far and send it off from Sun Peaks.

Weekly

Mondays

Quizzy Rascal nights are back for the summer at Morrisey's Public House! Starting at 8 p.m., grab your team of six, pay $2 and reserve your table in advance.

Tuesdays

Trail building nights are back! Join community members and help maintain trails throughout Sun Peaks. Weekly events are held by Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association and members of the association are welcome to attend.

Fridays

AA meetings at Sun Peaks Secondary Academy at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays

Kamloops Farmers Market, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sundays

Sun Peaks market days begin June 18 and run until October 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.