"Spirited Conversations" a play by Kathleen MacMillan

Dr. Kathleen MacMillan, a retired Professor of Nursing, author, and former Board member of the Macphail Foundation, has written a one act play, entitled "Spirited Conversations." Set in the Macphail Homestead, the play presents an imagined dialogue between the ghosts of three women: Georgina (Burland) Macphail; Lucy Maud Montgomery; Margaret MacMillan.
The play examines how women’s lives in Canada changed from the end of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century and how class, education and careers, as well as childcare and marital relationships, impacted women and defined their roles. Seen through the lives and experiences of three women with connections to Prince Edward Island and Canadian literature. The women never met in real life.
The play will be performed/read by the actors in the Great Room of the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead. Georgina Macphail(1869-1902) was married to Sir Andrew. She died young leaving two small children. She was the daughter of a wealthy Montreal businessman. Her short life was circumscribed by fixed expectations for upper middle-class women of the 19th century with firm ideas about women’s roles and acceptable social behaviour.
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942), the famous writer of Anne of Green Gables displays an air of sadness and regret. She is proud of her literary accomplishments and fame as an author. She strides the 19th and 20th century roles for women and, as such, was challenged and often resentful as she tried to balance ambition and cultural expectations for a woman of her time.
Margaret MacMillan (1889-1974) was born in the USA and married to an Islander. She came of age in the early days of a new era and had many opportunities and advantages that helped develop her self-confidence and independence. These three women have an imagined conversation through a fictional contemporary woman who makes her living hosting seances. The setting is a tea party attended by these women and highlights the influence the times have had on women.
Wednesday, August 6th and 13th at 1pm. The reading will be followed by tea and sweets. The cost is $20, and reservations can be made by calling 902 651-2789 or through our website: www.macphailhomestead.com.

You may also like the following events from Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead:

• Next Sunday, 10th August, 01:00 pm, The genealogy of the Macphail family: Two descendants look back at the life of Janetta Macphail in Montague

Also check out other Arts events in Montague, Literary Art events in Montague, Theatre events in Montague.