The GCTC is launching its 40th season with The Boy in the Moon by Emil Sher. The play is based on the book by Ian Brown, a well-known Canadian journalist and author.
Brown’s son, Walker, was born with a rare genetic condition and needs 24-hour-a-day care. His condition makes him incapable of speaking – unable to tell his own story. The play describes a father’s journey to find his son.
In the play, Walker may be absent but he serves as a catalyst. “It’s about what the child’s condition did to the relationship between two people,” says Eric Coates, Kitchissippi resident and artistic director of GCTC. The central character is Ian Brown, played by Peter James Haworth and his wife, Joanna Schneller, played by Manon St. Jules.
Music, or more specifically, percussion, is a big part of this production.
“Music adds texture,” says Coates. “Because Walker is absent, I wanted to add elements that fill in that void,” he explains. The soundtrack gently reminds us of the rhythm of Walker’s care – washing him, feeding him, getting him up and putting him to bed at night.
“The story is very unapologetically about the caregivers,” says Coates, and he wants the audience to come away with “a sense that it’s up to you as an individual to make friends with parts of yourself – to make a connection with people outside your comfort zone.”
The play runs until October 5, and there is a special showing on September 20. Tickets for this fundraiser and reception are $75, and include a private pre-performance reception and meet and greet with Ian Brown, as well as a post-performance Q&A with the cast and crew. All of the proceeds of the event will go towards supporting programs for Citizen Advocacy. For more information, or to buy tickets, go to gctc.ca.