To the residents of a small and conservative Saskatchewan farming community, Kate Allen must have seemed like something from another planet.
John Richards brings his girlfriend from the busy city to live on his parents害羞草研究所� farm. It is the dry, hot summer of 1988 and Kate害羞草研究所檚 behaviour rocks the community when she promises to run naked through the town if and when a severe drought breaks.
Shuswap Theatre害羞草研究所檚 winter offering, Dry Streak is a 害羞草研究所渄ramedy害羞草研究所� set in Olive and Peter Richards害羞草研究所� farm kitchen Dry Streak and provides a glimpse into the life of a small Prairie farming community.
Like many farming communities, everybody knows everybody害羞草研究所檚 business and you害羞草研究所檝e got to get along with these people for your whole life, said director Howard DeLong.
害羞草研究所淜ate doesn害羞草研究所檛 look like them, she dresses like a punk rocker and has travelled all over the world,害羞草研究所� said DeLong. 害羞草研究所淭o them she害羞草研究所檚 like an alien and she doesn害羞草研究所檛 fit in right away.害羞草研究所�
DeLong is directing a cast of seven and describes Peter, the father, as a hardworking man on the cranky end of the spectrum.
As the mercury climbs and the seemingly unending drought continues, tempers heat up too. Fed up with it all, Kate has too many drinks one night and announces to the bar patrons that if the drought would end, she would run naked through the town.
News erupts widely when the local newspaper shares Kate害羞草研究所檚 declaration with the residents of Stony Valley.
害羞草研究所淪he is an embarrassment to John害羞草研究所檚 family,害羞草研究所� said DeLong. 害羞草研究所淗ow can they show themselves in church and what is Olive害羞草研究所檚 best friend going to think?害羞草研究所�
DeLong explained the humour is subtle in this play about passion and acceptance that doesn害羞草研究所檛 happen right away.
害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 have to be a prairie person to enjoy the play,害羞草研究所� said DeLong, pointing out the play is well-written and very community oriented. 害羞草研究所淭he the absurdity of the situation makes it funny.害羞草研究所�
Dry Streak is a full-length comedy by playwright Leeann Minogue, a freelance agricultural writer, editor and research consultant in the areas of agriculture and economics, a playwright and a farmer. She is the author of Hanson Acres, a fictional column published in Country Guide, and the former editor of Grainews.
DeLong and his wife, Mary Fabian, left Salmon Arm in 1989 and lived and participated in community theatre in Saskatchewan and Prince George. The couple returned to the city in 2020.
害羞草研究所淲e wanted to come to B.C. because it is a magical place and has everything we like: recreation, theatre and an impressive arts scene,害羞草研究所� said DeLong, noting he feels quite a bond with the play having once attended a music festival in Bengough, Sask., a farming community with a population of just over 300. 害羞草研究所淓ven though they (farmers) lived 100 miles apart, they all knew each other and were very welcoming. There was a real spirit of hospitality.害羞草研究所�
DeLong said he approached the Shuswap Theatre board about presenting Dry Streak to Salmon Arm audiences a year ago.
害羞草研究所淭his is an homage to Saskatchewan where the play is very popular,害羞草研究所� said DeLong, noting it has also played in Saskatoon, Rosthern, London, Ont.,and more than 25 rural Canadian communities.
Fabian is the producer who brought together the stage crew of more than 20 people for the Salmon Arm production.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 been very valuable to this production,害羞草研究所� DeLong says, also pointing out that the Dry Streak set is going to be magical.
Dry Streak opens on Feb. 16. Tickets are available online at shuswaptheatre.com or at Choose Refill near Boston Pizza. The play runs at 7:30 p.m. from Feb. 16 to March 2, with Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m.
Read more:
Read more:
