It害羞草研究所檚 difficult to discuss the history of arts and culture in Vernon without coming across the name Sveva Caetani.
Her role in crafting the city害羞草研究所檚 artistic community is unparalleled, and in celebration of her life, Powerhouse Theatre shares her story in Sveva, running at the theatre Oct. 18-28.
For the original play, as part of their Canada 150 celebrations, Powerhouse Theatre brought in professional director Kevin McKendrick and playwright Janet Munsil to create the exclusive production.
害羞草研究所淭he play itself, like most good plays, is about relationships,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said, adding that the play follows not only Caetani害羞草研究所檚 relationship with the community, but her relationship with her family as well.
Sveva was uprooted from Rome in 1921, when her father Leone 害羞草研究所� an Italian nobleman 害羞草研究所� sought to escape Mussolini害羞草研究所檚 fascist regime, bringing his daughter Sveva and his mistress Ofelia Fabiani.
害羞草研究所淪ome say he spun the globe and his finger landed on Vernon,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said, adding that Leone was an avid hunter who had visited the beautiful British Columbian backwoods prior to the Caetanis害羞草研究所� relocation.
However, not all members of the family were so thrilled.
害羞草研究所淥felia wants nothing to do with Vernon,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said.
To satisfy Ofelia害羞草研究所檚 highfalutin tastes, the family visited home often, until money became tight and they could no longer afford the luxury trips.
Sveva and Leone were close until his death in 1935, when suddenly Ofelia and Sveva害羞草研究所檚 relationship took a turn.
害羞草研究所淎 really big part of the play is the relationship between a mother and daughter,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said. 害羞草研究所淲hen Sveva害羞草研究所檚 father dies, Ofelia kind of guilts her into staying home.害羞草研究所�
Then a young adult, having recently lost her father, Sveva was condemned to a life of solitude, spending the majority of her time in her family害羞草研究所檚 wooden home on Pleasant Valley Road.
害羞草研究所淔or 24 years, she害羞草研究所檚 like a house prisoner. All she has is her books. Her mother won害羞草研究所檛 even allow her to paint,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said. 害羞草研究所�Divine Comedy was an important book for her father. When he died, he told her to learn this book.害羞草研究所�
After more than two decades spent indoors with little connection to the outside world, Ophelia passed away and Sveva left home. She害羞草研究所檚 42-years-old with no money and no education, but she could reconnect with her love of art.
Utilizing her newfound freedom to paint and a worldview forged from literature, Sveva went to work and her series of 56 large-scale paintings Recapitulation was born.
害羞草研究所�Recapitulation chronicles Sveva害羞草研究所檚 take on hell, purgatory and heaven,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said, adding that a partial inspiration for the series stemmed from her father害羞草研究所檚 love of Dante Alighieri害羞草研究所檚 Divine Comedy. 害羞草研究所淪he has a worldview through literature and her imagination. She was able to access her imagination like most can害羞草研究所檛. (It害羞草研究所檚) discovering the artist in you by looking at the world through a lens that害羞草研究所檚 a little bit wider.害羞草研究所�
In time, Sveva reconnected with the community and eventually pursued an education and became an art instructor in Lumby.
Wrought with hardships and familial obligation, Sveva follows themes of coping with dysfunction in families and our relationships with ourselves and our community.
害羞草研究所淲hen we do encounter diversity, how do we handle those waves?害羞草研究所� McKendrick said. 害羞草研究所淪ome react with fear and some are more mystified.害羞草研究所�
In our world of immigration and the ongoing refugee crisis, Sveva害羞草研究所檚 story is just as relevant as ever, McKendrick said.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e faced with a situation today where we have strangers in our midst that we害羞草研究所檙e trying to come to terms with,害羞草研究所� he said.
And it害羞草研究所檚 a message that is woven throughout the Powerhouse production.
害羞草研究所淭heatre at its best should provoke yet entertain. The piece should be provocative, not just in subject matter but how it害羞草研究所檚 shown,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said. 害羞草研究所淲e certainly have a diet for entertainment in the form of television and movies that tell us what to think. In theatre, you make your own decision on what害羞草研究所檚 right and what害羞草研究所檚 wrong. If people don害羞草研究所檛 come out of that going, 害羞草研究所榃ow, it moved me,害羞草研究所� if that doesn害羞草研究所檛 happen, we害羞草研究所檝e missed the mark. But we have been working hard to ensure that happens.害羞草研究所�
Despite the biting message, McKendrick said at its core, theatre is still a form of entertainment.
害羞草研究所淭he play that Janet has given us is highly impressionistic. As a viewer, you just have to come and experience it,害羞草研究所� McKendrick said. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e never going to understand everything about life, it害羞草研究所檚 too complex害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 not a traditional play even though it has traditional elements.害羞草研究所�
Boasting a 20-person cast with performers ranging from ages eight to 78, Sveva is a local story that showcases local talent.
And for Sveva, that was the ultimate goal: bringing art back to the community.
害羞草研究所淎rt doesn害羞草研究所檛 have to be inaccessible. Art is in our watches and our dinner plates. Art isn害羞草研究所檛 something we should be afraid of.害羞草研究所�
Powerhouse Theatre presents Sveva Oct. 18-28, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees Oct. 22 and Oct. 28. Tickets are available for $28 for adults and $22 for students from the Ticket Seller, 250-249-7469, .
