WCT - The Comedy of Errors Program - 2017

Presenting Partner

FEATURING ANDREW COWNDEN: Aegeon / Strongman / Angelo / Courtezan TESS DEGENSTEIN: Adriana / Duchess / Officer ANAND RAJARAM: Dromio of Syracuse / Dromio of Ephesus JAMIE ROBINSON: Antipholous of Syracuse / Antipholous of Ephesus ELLA SIMON: Luciana / Nell / Dr. Pinch / Abbess

Artistic Personnel DARYL CLORAN: Director DREW FACEY: Set & Costume Designer LOUISE GUINAND: Lighting Designer JONATHAN LEWIS: Sound Designer & Composer HEATHER CANT: Assistant Director NICHOLAS WALLACE: Magic Consultant TRACEY POWER: Choreographer MELISSA THOMAS: Fight Director HOLLY LEWIS: Dramaturge MARK LIMACHER: Additional Piano SKYLAR NAKAZAWA: Stage Manager CHRISTINE LEROUX: Assistant Stage Manager MADISON HENRY: Apprentice Stage Manager Produced with the generous support of Candian Actors’ Equity Association

THANK YOU TO OUR production SPONSORS

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director’s notes Hello again! It is such a joy to be back in Kamloops and here at WCT. And it is a real pleasure to be working with this incredible team on this very zany play! The Comedy of Errors has more than 20 characters in it and is usually performed by a large cast of actors, but tonight it will be performed by five brave souls playing many, many roles!

As I read the script for The Comedy of Errors, I thought a lot about WCT’s production of The 39 Steps and all the crazy quick-changes and character switches involved in that. It got me thinking that as The Comedy of Errors is a story about two sets of identical twins, it is the perfect project to do in the style of The 39 Steps, with the actors playing a (near!) impossible number of roles each. And that’s what you’ll see tonight, including one actor who plays BOTH Antipholus of Ephesus and his twin brother Antipholus of Syracuse and one actor who plays BOTH Dromio of Ephesus and his twin brother Dromio of Syracuse. Over the course of the play, the character switches build to a fever pace, culminating in a final scene in which the whole cast is flipping between countless characters on stage right in front of your eyes!

I have set the play in the Vaudeville era, and have turned Ephesus into an island full of performers, including magicians, strongmen, comedians, and singers. We’ve added songs and magic and comedy to the story, all from the Vaudeville era. The Vaudeville context and performance style has brought this story of mistaken identities and comic chaos to life perfectly.

We laughed a lot as we rehearsed this production, and we hope you do too!

Enjoy the show!

Thank you to our Spotlight Sponsor

Daryl Cloran

SCENES ACT I SCENE I. A Theatre in Ephesus.

ACT I SCENE II. Streets of Ephesus.

ACT II SCENE I. The house of Antipholus of Ephesus. Dining room.

ACT II SCENE II. Streets of Ephesus.

ACT III SCENE I. Before the house of Antipholus of Ephesus.

ACT III. SCENE II. Luciana’s workshop.

INTERMISSION ACT IV. SCENE I. Streets of Ephesus.

ACT IV. SCENE II. The house of Antipholus of Ephesus.

ACT IV. SCENE III. Streets of Ephesus.

ACT IV. SCENE IV. Streets of Ephesus.

ACT V. SCENE I. A street before a Priory.

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CHARACTERS & SYNOPSIS SETTING The story takes place during the turn of the 20th century Vaudeville era. Ephesus is a Vaudevillean Island – almost all of the inhabitants are vaudeville performers of some kind.

The Duchess runs the town (like a big-time producer). The Syracusans (Antipholus, Dromio and Aegeon) are all merchants and are out of place in Ephesus.

CHARACTERS Antipholus of Ephesus

“The Amazing Antipholus” a vaudeville magician and entertainer.

Antipholus of Syracuse A merchant, newly arrived in Syracuse.

Dromio of Ephesus Magician’s Assistant to Antipholus of Ephesus.

Dromio of Syracuse Merchant’s Assistant to Antipholus of Syracuse.

Adriana Wife of Antipholus of Ephesus. A vaudeville singer/entertainer.

Luciana Sister of Adriana. A chemist/mechanic who creates the magic tricks/effects for Antipholus of Ephesus.

Aegeon Merchant. Father of both Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse.

The Duchess “Ringmaster” of Ephesus. She runs this town and all the performers living in it. A vaudeville performer in her own right (a fantastic knife thrower).

Angelo Songwriter and ventriloquist. Often seen with his ventriloquist dummy, Captain Charlie.

The Abbess Discovered to be Aemelia, mother of Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse.

The Courtezan A “lady” of the night.

Dr. Pinch A Spiritualist or Mentalist.

The Strongman A performer newly arrived to Syracuse for an audition.

Nell A large, loud cook who works at the home of Antipholus of Ephesus. Wife of Dromio of Ephesus.

Cops Incompetent law enforcement. Like the Keystone cops.

SYNOPSIS Epheusus and Syracuse are at odds. Any Syracusan found in Ephesus will be executed unless he can pay a ransom of a thousand marks. Aegeon, an old Syracusan merchant, has been arrested. He explains how he has come to Ephesus: he and his wife Aemelia had identical twin sons and identical twin slaves. In a shipwreck many years ago, he was separated from his wife, one son, and one slave. The survivors are renamed in memory of the lost ones: Antipholus for the son and Dromio for the slave. Once grown to manhood, Antipholus of Syracuse, with his Dromio, had set off in search of his brother and mother.

Aegeon is now in search of them. The Duchess gives him until evening to find the ransom money. By chance Antipholus and Dromio of Syracuse have also just arrived in Ephesus.

The other Antipholus and Dromio have been living there since the wreck. And so the comedy of errors ensues. The locals constantly mistake the visiting twins for the natives—even Antipholus of Ephesus’ wife Andriana and her sister Luciana are fooled. The confusions result in Antipholus of Ephesus being arrested for debt and declared mad, while Antipholus of Syracuse takes refuge from his brother’s angry wife in an Priory—where the abbess turns out to be Aegeon’s long-lost wife. All is resolved and Aegeon is freed.

SOURCE: The RSC Shakespeare Complete Works, The Royal Shakespeare Company, 2007.

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about the playwright Little is known of the life of William Shakespeare. What we do know comes from registrar records, court records, wills, marriage certificates and his tombstone in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Traditionally his birthday is celebrated on 23 April 1564, St George’s Day, three days before his baptism, which is recorded.

William’s father, John Shakespeare, was an affluent glove maker, tanner and wool dealer who owned property in Stratford. For a number of years he played a prominent role in the municipal life of the town.

However, around 1576 John Shakespeare was beset by severe financial difficulties, and he was forced to mortgage his wife’s inheritance.

William’s mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a prosperous farmer, who had left her some land in Wilmcote, near Stratford. John and Mary Shakespeare had eight children: four daughters, of whom only one (Joan) survived childhood. William was the eldest of the four boys.

William almost certainly went to one of Stratford’s junior schools where he would have learnt his letters. From the age of seven or thereabouts, he would have progressed to the King’s New School where the emphasis would have been on Latin. The classical writers studied in the classroom influenced Shakespeare’s plays and poetry; for example, some of his ideas for plots and characters came from Ovid’s tales, the plays of Terence and Plautus, and Roman history.

Shakespeare probably left school at the age of 14 or 15. It is not known what Shakespeare did when he left school In 1582, when he was 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, 26, the daughter of a well-to-do farmer in nearby Shottery. They had three children, Susanna, born in 1583 and twins, Hamnet and Judith, christened in February 1585. Anne’s home, now known as Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, still stands in the village of Shottery.

In Shakespeare’s youth, Stratford was often visited by travelling troupes of professional actors.

These players probably sparked his interest in the stage, and he may have entered the London theatre world though contacts made with them in Stratford.

We don’t know when or why Shakespeare left Stratford for London, or what he was doing before becoming a professional actor and dramatist in the capital. A period between 1585 and 1592 for which there is virtually no evidence concerning his life are generally referred to as ‘The Lost Years’. But by 1592 we know that he was in London, where he was singled out by a rival dramatist, Robert Greene, in his bitter deathbed pamphlet, “A Groats-worth of Witte.”

Plague broke out in London in 1593, forcing the theatres to close. Shakespeare turned to writing poetry. In 1593 Shakespeare published an erotic poem, “Venus and Adonis,” dedicated to Henry Wriothesley, Third Earl of Southampton, a young courtier and favourite of Queen Elizabeth.

Shakespeare’s earliest plays included Henry VI Parts I, II & III, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Titus Andronicus. The sonnets were also written about this time, though they were not published until 1609.

In 1594, Shakespeare became a founding member, actor, playwright and shareholder of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Richard Burbage was the company’s leading actor. He played roles such as Richard III, Hamlet, Othello and Lear. Under James VI/I, the company was renamed The King’s Men. They performed at court more often than any other company.

Sometime after 1611, Shakespeare retired to Stratford. Whereas John Shakespeare had lost a fortune, his son managed to amass great wealth in his lifetime. When he died in 1616, aged 52, he was a man of substantial wealth. On 25 April, he was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.

In 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, John Heminge and Henry Condell (two actors from The King’s Company) had Shakespeare’s plays published by William Jaggard and his son, Isaac. This first folio contained 36 plays and sold for £1.

Source: The Royal Shakespeare Company website.

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ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES Heather Cant Assistant Director At WCT: Director: The Velveteen Rabbit; Associate Director: Don’t Dress For Dinner; Assistant Director: Mary Poppins, Peter and The Starcatcher, Educating Rita, A Christmas Story, Noises Off, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Wit; and Actor: Having Hope at Home.

Elsewhere: Director: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, The Last of the Dragons (Project X Theatre); Penned (Burnt Candle Productions); Simple Machines (Upintheair). Assistant Director: The Rocky Horror Show, Twelfth Night (Project X Theatre); Alan and the Unbearable Likeness of Quarks (Upintheair). Actor (select): James and the Giant Peach, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Project X); Bye Bye Baby (Presentation House); The Memory of Water (Metro Theatre); Lady Windermere’s Fan (United Players); I Am Yours, Sunday on the Rocks (ADTC); A Bright Room Called Day (Somewhat Cooperative); and Lion in the Streets (Soundandfury). Film/TV: When a Man Falls, Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Portside, and The Peace Offering. Upcoming: Director: The House at Pooh Corner (Western Canada Theatre).

Daryl Cloran Director At WCT: Artistic Director (2010-16) and Director of Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, Peter and The Starcatcher, and many others!

Elsewhere: Daryl is the newly appointed Artistic Director of the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. His directing credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost (Bard on the Beach), Liberation Days (Theatre Calgary), Tribes (Canadian Stage), And All For Love (National Arts Centre), Generous (Tarragon), and Afterplay (Shaw Festival). Other: Daryl’s work has been nominated for Dora Awards (Toronto), Betty Awards (Calgary), SATA Awards (Saskatoon), Jessie Awards, and Ovation Awards (Vancouver). He has been awarded the Canada Council’s John Hirsch Prize for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Director, the Toronto Theatre Emerging

Artist Award, and a Robert Merritt Award for Outstanding Director (Halifax). Daryl is happy to be back in Kamloops with the great team at WCT! Andrew Cownden Aegeon / Strongman / Angelo / Courtezan At WCT: Peter and The Starcatcher, Silent Chap, Fiddler on the Roof, Noises Off, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and My Fair Lady.

Elsewhere: Recent credits include A Charlie Brown Christmas, James and the Giant Peach (Carousel Theatre); Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Comedy of Errors (Bard on the Beach); One Man, Two Guvnors (Arts Club); and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Theatre Under the Stars). Other: Andrew is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Tess Degenstein Adriana / Duchess / Officer At WCT: Boeing Boeing, The 39 Steps, and Don’t Dress for Dinner.

Elsewhere: Tess Degenstein has performed across the country, most recently touring Rebecca Northan’s hit show Blind Date. Internationally she has performed and taught in Vienna, Berlin, London, Oslo, and New York. She has been nominated for multiple Canadian Comedy Awards for her ensemble work in the improv troupe The Bad Dog Repertory Players and the web series Space Janitors (CSA Winner “Best Digital Series”) and for a Sterling Award for Best Actress in the world premiere of An Almost Perfect Thing. Her onscreen credits include King, Murdoch Mysteries, 12 Cards of Christmas, renegadepress.com, and the upcoming feature First Round Down.

Other: Thank you to Ryan for everything, and to you, for being here.

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Drew Facey Set and Costume Designer At WCT: Set Designer: In a Blue Moon, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Set and Costume Designer: Waiting for the Parade, Educating Rita.

Elsewhere: Onegin (Arts Club); Das Ding (Canadian Stage Company); The Merry Wives of Windsor (Bard on the Beach); Into the Woods (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Evita, Stickboy (Vancouver Opera); À toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou (Théâtre la Seizième); Romeo Initiative (Touchstone); Whipping Man (Pacific); “Art” (Gateway); Indian Arm, and Penelope (Rumble). He was also the Exhibition Designer for Future Worlds, an interdisciplinary theatrical event at UBC. Upcoming: Me & My Girl (Shaw Festival), The Marriage of Figaro (Vancouver Opera), Bonjour, la, Bonjour (Théâtre la Seizième), The Merchant of Venice (Bard on the Beach). Other: Drew is the recipient of thirteen Jessie Awards for outstanding design and twenty-eight nominations. He is a graduate of Studio 58. www.drewfacey.com Louise Guinand Lighting Designer At WCT: The Lion in Winter and Mary Poppins.

Elsewhere: Over 500 shows at theatres across Canada and the US including, Stratford, Shaw, National Arts Centre, Canadian Stage Company, The Grand Theatre, Globe Theatre, Neptune Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival and Kennedy Centre. Recent: The Lion in Winter (Grand); Peter and the Starcatcher (Globe); The Wizard of Oz (Young Peoples Theatre); All My Sons (Stratford); The Adventures of the Black Girl in her Search for God and Dance of Death (Shaw). Other: Graduate of Queens University and National Theatre School. Received Dora Award for Aspects of Love.

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Madison Henry Apprentice Stage Manager At WCT: Mamma Mia!, Made In Italy, In A Blue Moon, Habib’s Unforgettable All Night House Party, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Mary Poppins; Stage Manager for the WCT/TRU Young Company’s Bird Brain.

Elsewhere: Assistant Stage Manager for The Wizard of Oz (Project X Theatre); Stage Manager for Back to Beulah, Patience and The 15th Annual Director’s Festival (Thompson Rivers University’s Actors Workshop Theatre). Other: I can’t believe my final show as an Apprentice is already here (and what an amazing show to end on!)!

Daryl, James, Lori, Heather – thank you so VERY much for giving me the opportunity to work and learn with such an imaginative and patient team here at WCT. More thanks to all of the wonderful SMs and ASMs I’ve had the honor of working with over the past 15 months – especially Skylar and Christine. I can’t thank you both enough for always being supportive and making every show such a hoot! And, as always, many thanks to my family and Greg for everything else. See you all at The Hundred Acre Wood!

Christine Leroux Assistant Stage Manager At WCT: Stage Manager: Made in Italy; Assistant Stage Manager: Blithe Spirit, Habib’s Unforgettable All-Night House Party, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Don’t Dress For Dinner; Apprentice Stage Manager: Are We Cool Now?, The 39 Steps, 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Liberation Days, Peter and the Starcatcher, Driving Miss Daisy, Closer Than Ever, and Les Misérables.

Elsewhere: Stage Manager for Raven Meets the Monkey King (Axis Theatre Company); Assistant Stage Manager for The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, The Shakespeare Show, Alice in Wonderland and The Last of the Dragons (Project X Theatre). Other: Christine would like to thank Daryl, Heather and James for inviting her to be a part of this fantastic production! She would also like to thank her friends and family for their continued support. Enjoy the show!

Jonathan Lewis Sound Designer and Composer At WCT: Sound Designer and Composer for Liberation Days and I’ll Be Back Before Midnight.

Elsewhere: Jonathan has been involved in theatre for many years, as a musician, composer, and sound designer. Since his first show, in 1995 with One Yellow Rabbit Theatre Ensemble, he has gone on to work in many venues across Canada, with companies such as Theatre Calgary, The Citadel, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Alberta Theatre Projects, Vertigo Theatre, and others. Other: As a freelance musician, Jonathan can be heard mostly on the violin and viola, in all types of music from Broadway to classical, from jazz to Greek traditional, and more.

Thank you, Kamloops, for the warm welcome! lewisviolin.com / lewislimacher.com

Tracey Power Choreographer At WCT: Choreographer and actor: Les Misérables; Actor: UBUNTU (The Cape Town Project).

Elsewhere: Recent choreography includes: Chelsea Hotel, The Songs of Leonard Cohen, a show Tracey created and directed that continues to tour across Canada (Firehall Arts Centre/National Tour); Miss Shakespeare, which she wrote (Firehall Arts Centre); Onegin (Arts Club Theatre); three years of The East Van Panto (Theatre Replacement and The Cultch); and Singin’ in the Rain (Chemainus Theatre), which she also directed. Tracey has worked across Canada and internationally as an actor and playwright and has been the recipient of the Jessie Richardson and Sterling Haynes Award for her work. www.traceypower.ca

Skylar Nakazawa Stage Manager At WCT: Stage Manager: I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, 2015 High-Wire Festival: Children of God and Cure for Death by Lightning, Miss Caledonia, Closer Than Ever; Assistant Stage Manager: Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, The 39 Steps, Liberation Days, Peter and the Starcatcher, Driving Miss Daisy, Waiting for the Parade, Silent Chap, Les Misérables, Boeing Boeing; Apprentice Stage Manager: Fiddler on the Roof, The Importance of Being Earnest, Educating Rita, A Christmas Story, Harvest, and Noises Off. Elsewhere: Some of Skylar’s favourite credits include The Wizard of Oz, The Shakespeare Show, Alice in Wonderland, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, James and the Giant Peach, The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr Abridged. (Project X); Girl in the Goldfish Bowl (Theatre Northwest); Noises Off, A Shayna Maidel (Chemainus Theatre Festival); and Tales of the Lost Formicans (Actor’s Workshop Theatre). Other: Skylar would like to thank Daryl for giving her the chance to work with this incredible team.

She’d also like to thank James, Lori, and Heather for having her back at WCT. And to Dušan, Kitkat, and her family for their encouragement and support. Grandpa, this is for you.

Anand Rajaram Dromio of Syracuse / Dromio of Ephesus At WCT: Debut.

Anand performed most recently in Outside The March’s immersive show TomorrowLove, at Soulpepper in The 39 Steps and Noises Off (for which he was also assistant director) and presented his own play revue, Communist ‘Til Payday (at Soulpepper’s inaugural Tiger Bamboo Festival). Other theatre credits include Videocabaret, Tarragon, Factory, Corpus, Stratford, Second City, CanStage, Puppetmongers, Odyssey. Recent film, TV and voice work includes a regular panelist on CBC Radio’s Because News, Jason Sherman’s The Complete 150, Men With Brooms, Suits, Look Again, Beeba Boys, Terrific Trucks, Cat In The Hat, Dating Guy, Far Cry 4 and 5. He is also Artistic Director of @N@f@N@ and of Dishoom! South Asian Performance festival. With @N@f@N@, he created and performed in Hys Unauthoryzed Lyfe & Tymes, Stories From A Mountaintop, Aarthi & Akash, as well as the awardwinning mime fantasia, Cowboys & Indians.

Other: Anand recently won a Dora for his performance in Mustard.

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Jamie Robinson Antipholous of Syracuse / Antipholous of Ephesus At WCT: Debut.

Elsewhere: Select theatre acting credits include four seasons with the Stratford Festival of Canada, title role in Richard III (Metachroma Theatre (META Nomination)); The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Citadel/ MTC); Gas Girls (New Harlem Productions (Dora Award Nomination)); Angels in America Parts 1 & 2 (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Canadian Stage); and Medea (Mirvish/MTC). Film/TV acting credits include Conviction (ABC), The Expanse (SyFy), Saving Hope (CTV), Murdoch Mysteries (Shaftesbury), and Celeste in the City (ABC). Other: Hailing from Toronto, Jamie is Artistic Director of Scarborough’s Guild Festival Theatre, runs the Mentor and Apprentice Program for Obsidian Theatre, and holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre Directing and Education from York University.

He is also a graduate of the Stratford Birmingham Conservatory. Jamie is doubly thrilled to be making his WCT debut!

Ella Simon Luciana / Nell / Dr. Pinch / Abbess At WCT: Debut.

Elsewhere: Select threatre credits include Hilda’s Yard (Drayton Entertainment); 4000 Miles, The Importance of Being Earnest (Arts Club Theatre); It Could Be Any One of Us (Vertigo Theatre); Harvey, Jeeves in Bloom (Chemainus Theatre Festival); 500 Words (Green Thumb); and The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Ground Zero Theatre). Other: Ella is a Jessie Award nominee and graduate of Studio 58. Big love to Stefano for everything. More at www. ellasimon.ca Melissa Thomas Fight Director At WCT: Assistant Director for Fiddler on the Roof and Silent Chap.

Elsewhere: Melissa has choreographed and consulted for fight scenes in several productions, including The Love of a Nightingale (TRU and U of C), Robin Hood, The Shakespeare Show, The Last of the Dragons (Project X Theatre), The Untold Tales of the Brother’s Grimm, and

Superzeros (Chimera Theatre). She is also the Artistic Director for Project X Theatre and has directed and performed in several productions over the past ten years. Her favourite credits include The Wizard of Oz, The Shakespeare Show, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and As You Like It. Other: Melissa has been fortunate enough to work in the Kamloops theatre scene for the past fifteen years as a fight director, director, performer, and educator.

She is recently engaged and is looking forward to planning an adventurous wedding with her partner-in-crime Wyatt.

Nicholas Wallace Magic Consultant At WCT: Debut.

Elsewhere: Nick Wallace is a magician, consultant and practitioner of dark, deceptive arts purely for entertainment purposes. He has acted as magic consultant on Theatre Aquarius’ production of Disney’s Mary Poppins, as well as Monstrous Invisible, a play exploring the life of H.P Lovecraft.

Other: In 2010, Nick was named Canadian champion of magic by the Canadian Association of Magicians. He is very excited to join Western Canada Theatre, helping add to some magic to an already magical show.

He lives in Southern Ontario with his wife and two boys. He does not own a rabbit.

A LONG-LIVED STORY The major source for Shakespeare’s play was Roman playwright Plautus’ Menaechmi, a story of twin brothers separated at birth, written about 1,700 years earlier.

350 years after Shakespeare’s version, Rodgers and Hart adapted it for the musical The Boys from Syracuse.

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THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

PLAYBACK WEDNESDAY Wednesday, February 1, after the curtain call of The Comedy of Errors, Join us for a short, lively discussion of the show you’ve just seen and the theatrical arts in general. Facilitated by WCT Associate Artistic Director Heather Cant.

More Info:

wctlive.ca

about OUR Co-producerS Theatre Aquarius is a regional professional theatre, welcoming patrons from Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and beyond to their landmark performing arts facility, the Dofasco Centre for the Arts. Now in their 44th season, Theatre Aquarius presents a diverse and challenging six-show mainstage season in the 750-seat Irving Zucker auditorium and works with local writers and theatre artists to develop exciting new work for their Studio Theatre Series. Theatre Aquarius is an anchor for revitalization in Downtown Hamilton, helping to drive the reinvention of their city and their future through the transformative power of the arts and the shared passion of audiences proud to experience world-class theatre in their own hometown.

For 35 years, the Thousand Islands Playhouse has produced professional theatre that entertains, engages, and inspires audiences throughout Eastern Ontario. They produce a broad repertoire of pieces, including both classic and contemporary plays, interpreted with a uniquely Canadian perspective. Their goal is to enrich and contribute to their local community, and the Canadian theatre community as a whole, through theatre, music, and visual art. They actively develop new works and creative voices, and mentor the next generation of theatre artists through professional development and training. They also provide artistic education programs that have a meaningful impact on the community.

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Program Notes The Comedy of Errors – A Sonnet Rhym’d

by Heidi Verwey, MFA, LTCL

Dear b’loved patrons of this theatre – A rhyme in iambic pentameter!

To sharpen thy wit and ponder awhile ‘Bout this great show – and perhaps draw a smile.

It’s been fifteen odd years since a Shakespeare Has graced the boards of this lovely theatre; Five fine actors will perform all the bits – Minds may be blown by the challenge of it.

Here’s a soupcon of a Shakespeare lesson, to have on hand in the intermission: The play of two twins at birth sep’rated, (Will & Anne had a pair such related).

There’s much of identities mistaken, bawdy seduction, demon possession!

Word play and puns - famous lines narrated, Many words Will created unabated.

The story’s a classic, oft utiliz’d – we’ve seen it before; tis much recogniz’d.

As opera & on screen to amuse – as a musical – Boys from Syracuse!

This play has a thing, to scholars sublime – Aristotle’s famed unity of time*.

Not often used by Will’s literate muse The Tempest - the other with it he used.

So enjoy tonight, dear (patient) readers, and lovers of the magnificent Bard, (With humble apologies to Shakespeare and my English teachers [who tried so hard]) ___________________ * The classical unities, Aristotelian unities, or three unities are

rules for drama derived from a passage in Aristotle’s Poetics. In their neoclassical form they are as follows: • unity of action: a play should have one action that it follows, with minimal subplots.

• unity of time: the action in a play should occur over a period of no more than 24 hours.

• unity of place: a play should exist in a single physical space.

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WCT Staff James MacDonald, Artistic Director Lori Marchand, Executive Director Administration Ron Thompson, Financial Manager Randy Chow, Accounting Assistant Catrina Crowe, Marketing & Comm. Director Bryce Herman, Fund Development Consultant Suzan Goguen, Growth & Engagement Director Terri Runnalls, Education Coordinator Jessica Buchanan, Events & Outreach Assistant Carlin Bolt, Marketing & Research Assistant Production Heather Cant, Associate Artistic Director Ross Nichol, Production Manager Bill Chabassol, Production Technical Director Brian St-Amand, Sagebrush Technical Director Roya Mole, Sagebrush Assistant Technical Director Cindy Wiebe, Head of Wardrobe Rory Lynch, Head of Carpentry Angela Frye, Head of Properties Joel Feenstra, Production Assistant Robin Arundel, Technician Liam Befurt, Technician Celine Maher, Technician Laurie Harder, Carpenter Ken Wells, Scenic Painter Charlotte Wagner, Wardrobe Susan Dixon, Wardrobe

Front of House Heather Regan, Client & Audience Services Manager Jean Choi, Volunteer Coordinator Front of House Manager: Allison Clow Guest Services Staff: Carlin Bolt, Jessica Buchanan, Christina Poirier, Carling Ryan Kamloops Live! Box Office Jan Riggs, Box Office Manager Geraldine Penny, Box Office Staff Judy Day, Box Office Staff Michelle Vogrinec, Box Office Staff

WCT BOARD David Ross † Tim Rodgers - President Tom Kerr ‡ Grant Chu - Past President Judge T.W. Shupe § Mathew Dundas - Vice D. Michael Dobbin * President Peggy Gilmour * Gordon Miller - Vice President Mike Latta * Francis Barnett * Anne Manson * Richard Block Maureen Marshall * Marilyn Crossen Lanni Shupe * Wesley Eccleston Sharon Frissell †

Honorary Life Artistic Producer ‡ Founding Artistic Director § Honorary Life Chairman * Honorary Life Member

Special Thanks DK Shoe Clinic

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Western Canada Theatre gratefully acknowledges the following government agencies, corporations, foundations, and individuals for their generous financial contributions through sponsorship and/or charitable donations. We are very thankful to everyone who plays an important part in helping us to bring the highest quality of work to the broadest possible audience. (Listings based on annual contributions, July 2015 to December 31, 2016.)

Operating Grants The City of Kamloops Canada Council for the Arts Department of Canadian Heritage Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Government of Canada The Province of BC British Columbia Arts Council Foundations BC Interior Community Foundation Domtar Foundation RBC Emerging Artists Project Presenting Partner Kelson Group, Ron & Rae Fawcett Season Sponsors Aberdeen Mall CFJC TV Home Hardware Kamloops This Week New Gold Noran Printing Show Sponsors 98.3 CIFM Alastair Murdoch Accounting Group Ltd. B-100 British Columbia Lottery Corporation CFBX 92.5 FM Cloverdale Paint Country 103 Schoening & First Memorial Funeral Services ideaLEVER Kamloops Airport New Wave Advertising Group Overland Press Radio NL Ramada Kamloops Hotel The River 97.5 The Riverland Inn & Suites Simply Computing TNRD Watson Engineering Ltd. Pre-Show Salon Sponsors Celista Winery Terra Restaurant Mainstage PWYC MatinĂŠe Sponsor BEST WESTERN PLUS Kamloops Hotel Spotlight Sponsors Canadian Mortgage Experts Canadian Tire Cloverdale Paint The Echo Edward Jones - Brant Hasanen

Kamloops Insurance Services KPMG Westland Insurance Diamond Companions ($10,000 and above) Anonymous Michael E. Black & Denise Fortier Gold Patrons ($3,500-4,999) Put your name here!

Silver Patrons ($2,000-3,499) Dr. Laura (Lolly) & Mike de Jonge Roland & Anne Neave Ronald & Susan Thompson Copper Patrons ($750-1,999) Anonymous Francis & Helen Barnett Russ & Jane Reid Terry Simpson James & Barb Wentworth Patrons ($500-$749) Anonymous Ben & Lorene Anders Grant & Nancy Chu Sheila Collier Lois Crown Tony Erlank Jessie & James Fedorak Mirella Holden Charles Izowsky Michael & Debbie Kowbel June McClure Len & Laurie Marchand Thomas & Sharon Moore Judy Moser Mary Orr Murphy & Katharine Shewchuk Bud & Daphne Smith Investors ($200-$499) Adams Lake Indian Band Peter & Debra Allik-Petersenn Mike & Mary Elizabeth Baker Peter Baron & Sheila Collier Dr. Anise Barton and Dr. Tom Wallace Dr. James and Anne Baughan R.C. Bidnell Christine & James Bilbey Jean Burris John Corbishley David & Laura Farrow Allen & Sharon Frissell Cora Jones Maryann Kowalsky Gwyneth Lamperson Fred & Nancy Leake Ray LePage Sandy & Ellen McCurrach Terry & Joan McQuillan

Len & Donna Marchand Tanya Mihura Jim & Beverley Mundle Iris Nelson Richard Olthuis Colene Palmer Guy & Jeanine Parker Shirley & Kelly Rowland Ray & Susan Sewell Terry Shupe Colleen Stainton Nancy Stewart Marijke & Al Stott Shirley Sze Eric & Wendy Thomas Dave & Maryanne Whiting Benefactors ($100-$199) Dianne Almond Barbara & Agnus Balle Walter & Odell Black Jack & Pauline Braaksma Ed & Patti Bruzzese Mavis Chalmers Kathy & Randall Chan Ken & Brenda Christian Bill & Evey Chursky Sally Cornies Brent & Eija Cryderman Jeff Cummings Joan Cummings Ian Dalgleish and Melisa Hunter Roxanne Dauncey Pat Decker Rhonda Diaper Ross & Judy Dickson Larry & Edie Dixon Dan & Denise Douglas Vivian Edwards Robert & Patricia Esdale Shirlee Ezowski Reno & Marie Fabbro Ronald Fairhurst Ruth & Michael Fane Glen & Sara Farrow Marvyn Fitzpatrick Grayden & Sangita Flanagan Louella Garner Jim & Joan Gordon Barb Hannah Janet Herman Rosemary Hibbard Dave & Dorothy Hilton Matthew Howes Bob & Jo Mary Hunter Rob & Lila Jennejohn Darrel Jones Sharon Kika Bob & Pat King Darcy Latremouille Kirsten McDougall

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Doris McNutt Nathan & Marie Matthew Tanya Mihura Vic & Sally Mowbray Jim & Beverley Mundle Wendy Nielsen Jeannine Nishiguchi Maria Paccagnella Carl Pentilchuk Robert & Lorraine Pick Sheila Pierson Reg & Tracey Pointer Sandra Pryce Karl & Debbie Rainer Sulwen (Cookie) Reimer Rogers Family Susie Safford Beverley Schroeder Almina & Ken Self Craig & Sharlene Sharpe John & Karen Siggers Barbara Smith Don & Sandy Staff Peggy Swanson Florence Thomson Lynne Totten Bob & Jennifer Trudeau Marilyn Vandongen

Tom Wallace and Anise Barton Gwen Watson Lois & David Williams Shirley Wiklund Bob & Sally Zryd Friends ($10-$99) Anonymous Lynn Albertson Karen Albiston Denise Lynn Anderson Esther Anderson Jeanne Berdan Barry & Judy Brown Margaret Brown Patrick Callahan Donna Demarni Anne Denbigh John Dittrich Anne Dunn Elizabeth Dye Sandra Eastwood Dave & Irene Edamura Shirley Evans Tammy Jean Forsyth Blake & Linda Fox Jeanne Gagne Robert & Michele Gieselman Trudy Goold & Eric Bjorkland

Peter & Judy Gray Ken & Marylyne House Bob & Robbie McLaren Dean & Wendy McLean Doris McNutt Beverley Martin Betty Muench Heather Murdoch Stan & Louise Oakes Tina Oosthoek Wilma Pagan Mavis Paravantes Pauline Pollock Robert & Lorraine Pick Valentina Putoto Nancy Rigby Jay Rilkoff Rosemary Saint-Michaels Margaret Shaw Kathy Sinclair Shelley Singular Joan Spencer Nicole Tougas Gemma Vidal Pat Wallace Edward Walsh Carman & Diane White

A very special thank you to the following, who generously participated in our special 100 Heroes campaign to ensure WCT would be in a strong financial position in its 40th Anniversary Season and beyond.

Our Super Heroes ($5,000 and above) Anonymous Dr. Laura (Lolly) & Mike de Jonge Michael Black & Denise Fortier Estate of Peggy Gilmour Rae Nixon Our Heroes ($1,000 and above) Anonymous Anonymous Bill Adams & Katie McCormick Peter & Debra Allik-Petersenn Francis & Helen Barnett Barb & Doug Berger BEST WESTERN PLUS Kamloops Hotel Fearon & Richard Blair The Bostock & Fallis Families of Monte Creek Heritage Fund Dr. Jill Calder & Dr. Robert Walter

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Grant & Nancy Chu Hugh Fallis & Marilyn Crossen Ron & Rae Fawcett Sharon & Allen Frissell Wilf Froese Coby Fulton & Margot McMillan Cathy Ferguson & Ken Sommerfeld Cathy Hall-Patch John & Stephanie Hampel, in memory of Karl & Agnes Hampel Jaylene Hanna Bryce Herman & Lisa Fuller Lois Hollstedt ideaLEVER Solutions Inc. Peter Inglis & Mastermind Studios Kamloops Honda Kevin Krueger Tina Lange-Henzler Glynis Leyshon & Richard Brownsey The Marchand Family

Kirsten McDougall David McGillivray, in memory of Rhea & Don McGillivray Maxine & Dennis Mucha Roland & Anne Neave Jeff & Shelley Parr Rasheda Petersen Edie Pletzer Bruce Powell, in memory of Jane Powell Jane Reid Russ Reid Tim Rodgers Sage Sport Institute Derek and Lynn Schreurs Peter Schwirtz & Shirley Sze Bud & Daphne Smith Kent Stasich Carl Sulkowski Jennifer Takahashi

YOU ARE THE

HEART

OF WCT

Thank you to all our dedicated donors, sponsors & volunteers

Northern European Deli

we are

bigger on the inside cafĂŠ, grocery shop, gift shop, garden shop, pet shop and more!

225 7th Avenue Kamloops 250-377-0055 19

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