Vagabond Productions Goes Political

2015 is sure to be a year of important elections for both PEI and Canada. In preparation, UPEI's Vagabond Productions plans to throw its audience a hardball. After going old-school with a Greek classic last year, Vagabond now tackles a controversial Canadian political play called Captives of the Faceless Drummer by George Ryga, best known for The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. When asked about his choice, Dr. Greg Doran, Coordinator of Theatre Studies at UPEI, said, 'I chose Captives because it is a bit of a forgotten Canadian classic. Also, when rereading it, I was struck by how contemporary it feels, despite being written in 1971.'

The play opens in a near-future dystopian Canada. Harry, a respected diplomat, is hostage to a violent revolutionary cell led by the enigmatic Commander. The action bounces between past and present and offers glimpses into Harry and the Commander's memories as they struggle to find common ground, despite overwhelming differences between them. When asked about the biggest challenge for the cast, Dr. Doran had an immediate response. 'The style of the production is new to the cast. We are breaking down the fourth wall, putting the audience on three sides, and defying conventional theatre practices. It is really cool, but very challenging for the cast.'

The show runs on the UPEI campus, in the Faculty Lounge of Main Building, March 10 to 14. The doors open at 7 pm for a 7:30 pm curtain. Admission is pay-what-you-can, so there are no advanced sales. The play deals with mature subject matter and includes mature language, so it may not be appropriate for everyone. For more information, call (902) 566-6013 or email gdoran@upei.ca.