Several young men and women have started rehearsal for an encore presentation of Canada’s first known war play, which will be performed in the Fergus Grand Theatre in November.
Rehearsals started the last week of August, and on one of those evenings, the cast saw the war classic film All Quiet on the Western Front to get a sense of the harsh realities of World War I.
The play is the first presentation of the 2008-2009 season for Elora Community Theatre. The play is called You’re Lucky if You’re Killed, by Doctor Norman Craig. It returns to the Fergus Grand Theatre where it first made its debut in 1933, Fergus’ centennial year.
Elora Community Theatre presents the play in co-operation with several other community groups. It is appropriate for Fergus 175th anniversary and also fits well with Remembrance Day observances.
Directed by Bronwyn Allen Hill and Gary Bryant, the script examines the lives and attitudes of young men from a small town during the conflict of World War I. Bryant said, “Some extra historical information is being added to this presentation through the addition of Newsboys and other characters in order to remind the audience of events of the time. Events of 1914-1918 would have been well known to the audiences in 1933.”
Dr. Craig had served in the war, as a medic and later with the Royal Naval Air Service as a sub-lieutenant leading a squadron of Sopwith Camel fighter planes. By war’s end, most of his boyhood friends had been killed.
As time passed afterwards, and still no war memorial had been built in Fergus, Dr. Craig thought the town should recognize the soldiers who had given their lives by building a memorial to honour them. He hoped that by writing and staging the play, he could make the citizens of Fergus see how important it was to remember the sacrifice of their friends and neighbours.
He donated the play proceeds to help build a war memorial. That memorial was finally erected and then opened in a ceremony and parade at dawn on Aug. 5, 1935.
You’re Lucky if You’re Killed tells the story of young men who went to war and those they left at home, and it includes several original musical numbers.
The play has been adapted by Elora Community Theatre and is performed by permission of the Craig family. Performance dates are Nov. 7 to 9 and Nov. 13 to 15. In addition to the six regular performances, three school matinees are scheduled for Nov. 10, 11, and 12 at 1 pm.
To order tickets, call Ralph Basset Associates at 519-843-4852. Credit card and debit services are available. Plan to call before the first play, and book season tickets at $40 for three shows. Regular prices are $17.50, seniors $14, and groups of 10 or more $12. Elementary school students and EyeGO tickets are only $5.
For more information, visit www.eloracommunitytheatre.com and www.wellingtonarts.ca/eloracommunitytheatre.
