Three actors, a minimal set and a camouflage background set the stage for a new provocative play that tackles life behind the front lines in Afghanistan and the impact it has on those who serve.
Written by Kelowna playwright Sean Harris Oliver, The Fighting Season tells the story of three Canadian medical personnel in the Kandahar Air Field during the Afghan War.
The play is based on the experiences of his own fathersa国际传媒檚 service overseas, Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Dr. Jack Oliver.
The playwright first shared the script with director Stephen Jefferys while it was already playing to sold-out crowds in Vancouver. He wanted to see it performed on a local stage and Jefferys wanted to make that happen.
sa国际传媒淲hen I first read it I got chills. This subject is still relevant, it is about how war changes people, how war changes people in the medical community in particular,sa国际传媒� said Jefferys.
sa国际传媒淚 think it is an exciting theatrical experience. It is a combination of stories from the present and delving into the past so the audience gets to see a play of the imagination.
The three-person cast is made up of Graham Daley, who plays field medic Kristy; Anita Reimer, who plays ICU nurse Karine; and Don Plant, who plays orthopaedic surgeon Terry.
sa国际传媒淭hey were all affected by it, they were changed by it,sa国际传媒� said Jefferys.
The story weaves each charactersa国际传媒檚 memories and present emotions together to bring a brutal but sometimes beautiful story to life.
sa国际传媒淚 really liked the idea of working on a script that was written by a local playwright and taking place in Afghanistan during the war,sa国际传媒� said Plant.
This is the first time he has had the opportunity as an actor to meet the person his character is based on.
sa国际传媒淚t has been a thrill just to meet him,sa国际传媒� said Plant.
sa国际传媒淚t brings home what Canadasa国际传媒檚 role is outside of our shores. It is an exciting play based on real life history which appeals to me as a former reporter. It is a thrill to be doing such a gritty show about something Canada has been so active in, in the news, over the last 10-20 years.sa国际传媒�
Anita Reimer is anglophone actor who doesnsa国际传媒檛 speak any french and yet plays a francophone nurse who struggles with providing medical care for a terrorist that she knows killed her comrades.
sa国际传媒淚t is provocative. It is bringing up questions that are real,sa国际传媒� said Reimer.
sa国际传媒淚 think it is an important piece for creating awareness about what all of our service people go through and how they served our country and served Afghanistan. It is powerful. I also really wanted the challenge of the French-Canadian accent.sa国际传媒�
Dr. Oliver volunteered for the Canadian Armed Forces as a surgeon for four weeks at the Kandahar Air Field in 2008 and recently said sa国际传媒渢his whole [play] is a conceivable scenariosa国际传媒攊t didnsa国际传媒檛 happen, but itsa国际传媒檚 conceivablesa国际传媒�.
The Fighting Season runs May 16-19 at the Creekside Theatre in Winfield and May 21 at The Powerhouse Theatre in Vernon.
The Fighting Season is also Theatre Kelowna Societysa国际传媒檚 entry into this yearsa国际传媒檚 Ozone Festival.
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