Following President Donald Trump’s ascent to power in the United States, an actor from a Squamish play hopes her character can help audiences navigate challenging political times.
“I think she represents that little voice inside of all us that’s telling us to do the right thing regardless of the cost,” said Sidney Klips of her role as Julie in the upcoming performance of Kayak.
“The need to be an active citizen is more [important] than ever, and I think [Julie] really speaks to that need.”
After attending the Vancouver Women’s March, which was part of a simultaneous global protest against Trump, Klips said she believes Kayak has many themes that would resonate in today’s political climate.
One message in particular stands out in the aftermath of the U.S. elections – the need to reconcile differences in politics and worldview, Klips said.
“I think what you get from [Julie] and Annie constantly battling each other out is this compassion that can happen and needs to happen,” she said.
The play is running from March 30 to April 1 and April 5 to 8 at Eagle Eye Community Theatre.
The production starts by focusing on actor Kathryn Daniels as she plays the role of Annie, a character who’s stranded alone in a kayak on a vast body of water.
The story then works backwards as Annie reflects on how she arrived at this situation, following a series of confrontations she had with her son, Peter, and his activist girlfriend Julie.
Unable to approve of the young woman’s radical worldview, Annie finds herself fighting against Julie’s influence on Peter, who is played by Todd Weitzel.
As the story unfolds, the characters challenge each other over moral questions about an impending environmental crisis.
The themes presented in the tale apply very much to the local community, director Janice Carroll said.
“When I was reading it, I kept thinking, ‘Man, this is perfect for Squamish,’” said Carroll.
“It will resonate with a lot of people in Squamish because it’s been marketed as this beautiful – and it is – outdoor adventure playground, and yet they want to bring in the LNG.”
Questions about how family influences our decisions, how easily society is manipulated and the price of activism are all confronted during the play.
Survivalism is also a prominent theme, leaving audience members to reflect on whether what they are seeing is the end of the world, Carroll said.
The play will be produced by the Between Shifts Theatre Society of Squamish, which was founded in 1993.
Written by Jordan Hall, previous performances of Kayak have received critical acclaim from outlets such as CBC Radio, NOW Magazine and Plank Magazine.
The Between Shifts Theatre Society was founded in 1993 by Kathy Daniels and Mark McConchie.
McConchie has since moved on, but the non-profit continues to deliver theatre to Squamish and the surrounding Sea to Sky Corridor under Daniels’ guidance.
To purchase tickets online and for show times, go to www.betweenshiftstheatre.com.
