Volume 48, Issue 20 - March 20, 1998

By ANDREW BURGESS

The spring theatre season is here and Beothuck Street Players have a production that will be full of mystery and even some contemporary issues. The group will premiere Bernice Morgan's play Big Game.

"This play is Bernice's first play and we were very anxious to try and translate her literary accomplishments into a stage production," the play's director, Roy Perry said.

A small cabin about 20 miles away from Gander, Newfoundland is the setting of Big Game. Five people arrive at the hunting lodge to spend the weekend, but when the play commences the audience is given the impression not all of the characters will be alive by Sunday. It is a strange twist on a murder mystery; instead of attempting to identify the killer, the audience will be trying to guess the victim.

On stage, the five potential victims entertain by recalling their own accounts of the past, and each predicting an equally different future. But who can predict the outcome of the weekend? As the characters' discussions and situations continue, it no longer becomes a matter of guessing who will be killed, but why. Perhaps one of the motives could be the potential hydro-electric development on the site by a multi-nation corporation.

"The multi-national corporation wants to harness some of the land there for hydro-electric possibilities . . . they are very interested in the potential hydro," Perry said.

Through humour and mystery, the play questions some of society's motives and ethics concerning property. Why is home considered home? By what justification do people claim ownership on artifacts and land? Is it worth killing or dying for? And just to add some spice to the plot, why is there a 600 pound bear sniffing around the cabin?

It is a play of humour, conflict and mystery. Big Game marks Bernice Morgan's (Random Passage, and Waiting for Time) first accomplishment as a playwright and Beothuck Street Players' third consecutive play dealing with Newfoundland issues.

Together the group and the playwright have worked on and contributed to the final production.

"[Morgan's] input was all what we'd call upfront. She wrote the script and work-shopped the play a few times and then she made adjustments to it, presumably on the advice of people she had conferred with. . . . She has been very, very supportive of any ideas or changes we have suggested," Perry said.

In April, Big Game will be Beothuck Street Players' entry into this year's Newfoundland and Labrador Drama Festival in Gander. But before then, the production will have a short run in St. John's.