Infinitheatre Presents TRENCH PATTERNS at Bain St. Michel, Now thru 11/18

By: Oct. 23, 2012
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Infinithéâtre will present the world premiere of Alyson Grant's Trench Patterns, the winner of their 2011 Write-On-Q! playwriting contest, from tonight, October 23-November 18 at Bain St. Michel. Directed by Guy Sprung, the show stars Patricia Summersett as returning Afghan soldier Jacqueline (last seen in Centaur Theatre's Intimate Apparel).

The talented cast also includes Diana Fajrajsl (fresh from Metachroma Theatre's Richard III), Zach Fraser (The Game of Love and Chance, Centaur Theatre) and James Soares-Correia (Salt-Water Moon, Raise the Stakes Theatre). The playing space at Bain St. Michel becomes the Royal Victoria Hospital as seen in Jacqueline's mind through the inspired creativity of the design team.

Jacqueline is a wounded Canadian Forces combat officer returned from Afghanistan after a mission gone fatally wrong. She is angry, intelligent and funny, traits she uses to keep her mind from the violent events of the day that broke her. Solace comes from ghostlike visitations including her great-grandfather, Jacques, a French Montréaler conscripted into World War One and executed for desertion and cowardice. As she recedes into his haunted world, we see her slowly move closer to her own.

Playwright Alison Grant, head of the English Department at Dawson College, was drawn to writing this play while increasingly feeling a media-drenched numbness hearing news about Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and their often troubled readjustments once home. "I was surprised at first to find this funny, sarcastic character making her way onto the page and then helpless as she brought me into some very dark and uncomfortable places," she says. What resonates for Grant are the various issues around these circumstances, "On one level, we have the big questions about war and its effect on the individuals who fight in them, and on the other we have a play about families and the stories that run through them."

The set is by Cassandre Chatonnier and the design is completed by Audrey Chikhani's authentic war costuming, Julien St-Pierre's effective lighting and Nikita U's original score and video design. Michael Panich is the stage manager. The production wishes to thank Major Victor Knowlton (Retired) for his invaluable help maintaining the veracity of this important piece.

Infinithéâtre presents Trench Patterns at Bain St-Michel (5300, rue St-Dominique) from tonight, October 23-November 18. Performances are on Tuesday to Saturday at 8PM with a Sunday matinee at 2PM. Tickets are $25 with discounted $17 tickets available for students, seniors and Canadian Forces. Discounts are also available on 6-Packs of tickets (6 tickets for $68).

To buy tickets, call 514 987-1774 ext. 104 or visit www.infinitheatre.com (payment via PayPal). Ticket sales at the door are CASH ONLY.

Special events performances are listed before:
Half-Price Previews: Tues. Oct. 23, Wed. Oct. 24 at 8pm
Opening Night: Thursday, Oct. 25 at 8pm
Sunday, November 11: FREE for Canadian Forces at 2pm
Pay-What-You-Can Sunday: Oct. 28 at 2pm
Talkback Tuesdays: a post-performance informal discussion with the artists

Trench Patterns is generously supported by: Season sponsors CN and Hydro-Québec; Production sponsor Richard Santo Consultants; and CALQ, CAM, Canada Council, Ville de Montreal and Gildan ActiveWear.



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