As Christmas approaches, some adults wonder if that age-old story has any surprises left. Lloyd Arnett, a playwright, director, and TWU professor, says yes.
Forget your visions of shepherds in bathrobes or department store elves throwing tantrums, Arnett and his actors bring the Lower Mainland a show about real life. They are going back to basics with this theatrical exploration of what the Christmas story means to people today.
Arnett’s original script, Trinity Advent Plays, is a series of three short dramas performed by six actors who each tackle multiple roles. This triple-bill plays at Trinity Western University for one week only from Nov. 24 – 28, and tours to Lower Mainland churches over the following month.
The first play, Angels, begins with a SkyTrain crash and reported angel sighting. Do miracles still happen in the 21st century?
Theodyssey is a mystical journey where multiple storylines intersect — a blind woman searching for truth, a flustered bride with a case of cold feet and a handsome young atheist who falls for a Christian.
The third drama is aptly named The Trinity Advent Play, where a young woman named Peg searches for meaning in a difficult Christmas.
A pair of multi-talented theatre students stepped up to the plate for costume design (Mikayla Wust) and set design (Shelby Wyminga). Lloyd Arnett directs local actors Graham Boldt, Elizabeth Drummond, Emily Herbison, Jordan Klassen, Madeleine Osborne and Teagan Plett.
The plays run Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. The performance on Tuesday, Nov. 24 will be followed by a special talk back with the cast and director.
For tickets and information, visit www.twu.ca/theatre or call 604-513-2121 extension 3872.