Hello Internet – let’s talk about hope.
Tim and Kiersten – the creative geniuses behind Second Shot: the Curling Musical – asked me to be part of the process of this precious little play years ago, when their oldest child was still quite new. They had some development money, and they wanted my dramaturgical eye on it during a table read. They bravely laid out, as only they could, the story of a 6-year journey to have a baby. Conversations with doctors. Travel to seek out further treatment. Unsuccessful embryo transfers. Heartbreaking decisions.
It was remarkable to me to find out how long and how painful their struggle had been, when I had known them and been working with them for most of this time. They told me then that they’d wished they hadn’t kept it all so private. At the time, my husband and I were about to start trying for a baby.
Since then, we have talked about it on and off. They have worked with other dramaturges on it, gathering as many perspectives as they could. They added music – gorgeous music! – and have delved into some of the worst moments of their lives with frankness and, at times, with humour.
Since then, our professional relationship became a real, out-of-the-rehearsal-room friendship when, about a year after I told them we were about to start trying, Tim reached out to offer gently acknowledge that we may be members of the same club and to offer advice and commiseration.
‘hope’ is not my story – it is Tim and Kiersten’s completely – but there are many like it, and I have one of them. When they decided to put an excerpt of this piece on stage at the St. John’s Short Play Festival, they asked me to direct it, and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ‘last show’ to work on before my own miracle baby is born this fall.
‘hope’ is playing at the LSPU Hall on September 17th, at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets are available at the Hall box office.