SHE'S BACK! With her new one-woman show called "SHE VISITS."
Down By The Bays is beyond excited to welcome award winning playwright & actor MAJA ARDAL back to our theatre space at Pioneer Memorial Hall.
Audiences will remember Maja from her recent outstanding performance at Pioneer with her award winning play 'YOU FANCY YOURSELF.'
And here she is again with her most recent play, SHE VISITS.
Inspired by “Der Besuch Der Alten Dame” by Friedrich Dűrrenmatt
Directed by Jeff Braunstein
Songs composed by Maja Ardal
Original music and song design by Matt Dawson
Original set designer, Diane Frederick
Maja Ardal’s adaptation of Friedrich Dűrrenmatt’s masterpiece (Der Besuch Der Alten Dame)—“The Visit of the Old Lady”—is as relevant now as it was when he wrote it in 1956.
4 PERFORMANCES ONLY: Sept. 24 @ 2pm, Sept. 25 @ 7pm, Sept. 26 @ 7pm & Sept. 27 @ 2pm.
With Pioneer Memorial's new elevated tiered seating, there are only 40 seats available for each performance. Advanced on-line tickets are strongly encouraged. If any seats remain, $40 cash will be accepted at the door.
The Story. Claire Onassiopolus is fabulously wealthy. After 45 years Claire is returning home to Gardenia, her impoverished small town with a plan. Alfred Gill, one of the town’s most beloved citizens, is chosen to greet Claire and use his charm on her to see if she can help financially as much as possible. Claire and Alfred had a ‘history’ when they were teenagers so Alfred seems the smartest choice to ‘sweet-talk’ Claire. Various people remember her sense of justice, humanity etc. They soon find out about her keen sense of justice.
After Claire is settled in the town’s hotel, with her entourage of two beefy body-guards, two blind eunuch servants, her pet panther and a coffin, and the leaders of the town wine and dine her, Claire tells the folks what she will do for them. She will give the town $80 million and $20 million do be divided evenly among the townsfolk. On one condition, that they K*ll Alfred Gill. Pandemonium ensues. Disgust from the town’s folk that she should suggest such a despicable thing. Claire explains.
When she was 15-years-old Claire became pregnant by Alfred. He denied it. There was a bastardy case. Two teens were bribed by Alfred to say they slept with Claire. The result is that Claire was run out of town. She became a prostitute and rich, old Onassiopolus was one of her clients and he married her. When he died Claire inherited his wealth and then she plotted to get her revenge on the townsfolk of Gardenia and Alfred in particular. The people refuse her offer. Claire says she can wait. It’s one of the great lines of dramatic literature and how the town’s folk then react is one of the great character developments in a play.
DOORS OPEN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO SHOW TIME.
THERE IS ONE INTERMISSION with refreshments provided by Pioneer Memorial United Church with a cash donation.
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