Ken Smedley started writing the play in 1986 but found it as relevant as ever when it was published earlier this year.

The Rocky Mountain Prophet 害羞草研究所� A Tragedy In Three Acts, published by Rich Fog Micro Publishing in Vernon, is the life-long playwright害羞草研究所檚 most recent work and the eighth of Smedley害羞草研究所檚 published productions with Rich Fog.

Following the life of Uri Gregarious, an internationally renowned author known as The Rocky Mountain Prophet for his work giving a voice to the disenfranchised, Smedley害羞草研究所檚 play was inspired by events that followed the Vietnam War.

害羞草研究所淭here was an influx of refugees known as Vietnamese boat people. It was a bit of a contentious issue,害羞草研究所� Smedley said. 害羞草研究所�(There was) a degree of skepticism in relation to taking in refugees.害羞草研究所�

Gregarious, Smedley害羞草研究所檚 protagonist, is on his way home to Hinterland after a three-week trip to China after the conclusion of the war. Ever the 害羞草研究所楻ocky Mountain Prophet,害羞草研究所� Gregarious takes in one of such Vietnamese boat people he finds eating garbage from the dumpster behind his Hong Kong hotel. Smedley害羞草研究所檚 protagonist sponsors the beautiful young woman and brings her back to Canada where he intends to collaborate with her on an upcoming novel.

害羞草研究所淭his was kind of the perfect storm for him,害羞草研究所� Smedley said.

But, when Gregarious returns home, he finds a myriad of problems awaiting his attention and life soon gets in the way of his plan.

Gregarious害羞草研究所� wife doesn害羞草研究所檛 want the refugee in their home, his father has returned and is on his deathbed, his stepson is adamant that the now-penniless Gregarious should purchase Hinterland害羞草研究所檚 hospital slated for demolition in hopes of converting the building to an arts centre and his publisher wields a three-week deadline above Gregarious like a sledgehammer.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 got one thing after another. He becomes suddenly overwhelmed with all the different difficulties in his life,害羞草研究所� Smedley said. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 backed into a corner and he害羞草研究所檚 trying to write his way out. As the play progresses, it continues to get worse.害羞草研究所�

A true tragedy of classic Greek proportions, The Rocky Mountain Prophet denotes a new exploration for the Armstrong playwright and one that is as relevant now as when he wrote the first draft in 1986.

害羞草研究所淲hen it comes to the plight of the disenfranchised, there are people in this society that do stand out for people that are voiceless. We害羞草研究所檙e at a point in our own country where we害羞草研究所檙e beginning to question,害羞草研究所� Smedley said. 害羞草研究所淚n Europe, it害羞草研究所檚 just one day after the next that these boat people come from all over Africa. It害羞草研究所檚 an unbelievable situation when you consider the scale of it.害羞草研究所�

Smedley said that he often draws from the real world for his productions. And, despite having several published works, the magic never dissolves.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a real sense of satisfaction in actually getting the piece published. You really realize that in creating it and producing at this level it has been an effect of your own evolution and it害羞草研究所檚 a product of the self. There害羞草研究所檚 a definite degree of satisfaction that comes with realizing the fact that you created this ultimately for yourself and it害羞草研究所檚 an expression that害羞草研究所檚 validated,害羞草研究所� Smedley said, adding that he one day hopes to see The Rocky Mountain Prophet on stage.

害羞草研究所淵ou just never know 害羞草研究所� theatre is a crap-shoot. You害羞草研究所檙e a bit of an anomaly to be even doing such a thing. It害羞草研究所檚 not the most marketable work that exists. It害羞草研究所檚 a labour of love.害羞草研究所�

Smedley has travelled the globe for his work in the theatre. He was a founding member of what is now the Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops where be began his playwright career. He was later employed in professional repertory theatre in England before living and writing in Mexico from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s.

He has also acted in numerous plays and made his directorial debut with George Ryga害羞草研究所檚 controversial production Captives of the Faceless Drummer in 1975. From 1995 to 2012, Smedley was also the artistic director of the . This year, Smedley participated in 害羞草研究所檚 National Playwrights Retreat alongside writers such as Peter Anderson, Scott Maynard, John Millard and Tracey Power.

And while he has done it all, Smedley said his heart belongs to writing.

害羞草研究所淓ver since I was 16, I害羞草研究所檝e been writing plays. It害羞草研究所檚 always been an outlet for my inner self to work at the craft of creating theatre,害羞草研究所� Smedley said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l continue 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 what I am and have been since adolescence. I害羞草研究所檒l always continue to work as a playwright.

害羞草研究所淎t the end of it all when all is said and done, the play will be there as a legacy.害羞草研究所�

parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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